Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 October 1920 — A SILLY OBJECTION [ARTICLE]

A SILLY OBJECTION

Of all the silly objections made to the league of nations covenant, and there have been many, the silliest is that advanced by Mrs. Arthur Livermore, who recently said in a speech at Summerville, N. J., that article 23 of the covenant “not only recognizes and ratifies, Jnit legalizes traffic in women and children.” The thing, of course, is absurd on its face, for no men who were not fiends would put their names to an. agreement having any such effect. It might have been assumed that it would have been impossible for the foremost statesmen of the world to sink to any such pit of infamy. But here is the part, of the article referred to: Subject to and in accordance with the provisions of international conventions existing or hereafter to be agreed upon, the members of the league ♦ ♦ * will intrust the league with the general supervision over the execution of agreements with regard to the traffic in women and ■ children, and the traffic in opium or other dangerous drugs. The league is Intrusted, got with the supervision of the traffic, but with the supervision of the execution of agreements with regard to i£ which are destined to end it. We have such other agreements with others nations, the one with Great Britain, negotiated by President Roosevelt, being particularly binding. This is one of the agreements “with regard to the traffic in women” which all the nations of the world are to join in enforcing. Through the combined action of the. nations associated in the league it will be much easier to enforce these restrictions, and that was the object in view. 1 Mrs. Livermore through some strange miscomprehension, has thus twisted a great humanitarian purpose into a foul and sinister intent. The article criticised is one of the noblest in the covenant. Under it)

the nations pledge themselves not only to fight the traffic in women, but to “endeavor to secure and maintain fair and humane conditions of labor for men, women and children, both in their own countries and in all countries to which their commercial and industrial relations extend.” cure just treatment of the inhabit Is proposed further to establish and maintain international organizations which shall “undertake to seitants of territories under their control.” The traffic in arms is to be supervised and controlled and steps are to be taken “in matters of international concern for the prevention and control or disease.” Here is a program which the highest interests of mankind demand shall be carried Into effect. It is curious that the league of nations should so often be criticised and denounced for what it is not. It has been called a war league, whereas it is a peace league. It has been said that under it we should be forced to send “our boys” abroad to fight in foreign wars, and yet its great object is to make it ■unnecessary ever to do sq. We have been told that it is a “supergovernment,” whereas it is a mere partnership, and one of . carefully limited powers, operating ,in subordination to the fundamental law of the meinber nations. And now it Is said that the men who sought forever to stop and stamp out the traffic in women and children, and । who sought to put behind their pur- , pose the combined power of the ' civilized nations of the world are themselves procurers and panderers. । The charge is as outrageous as it is 'silly.—lndianapolis News (Rep.).