0
THE MORNING OREGON1AN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10,
EX-PRESIDENT TUFT
FRIENDLYTfl LEAGUE
Interest in Success of Cove
nant Frankly Avowed.
FEW CHANGES SUGGESTED
Minor Amendments Advised in Or
der to Cut Ground From Under
Opponents in Senate.
BY JOSEPH P TUMULTY.
(Copyright. 1021. by Doubleday. Pare &
Co. All rights reserved. Published by
Arrangement. )
Further cablegrams and other com
munications, dealing especially with
the attitude of former President Taft,
and sent at the time of the Paris
peace conference, follow:
"Washington. March 16, 1919.
"President Wilson. Paris:
"Former President Taft asks if he
may cable to you direct, for your con
sideration only, some suggestions
about which he has been thinking a
great deal and which he would like
to have you consider. He said that
these suggestions do not look to the
change of the structure of the league,
the plan of it action or its real char
acter, but simply to removing objec
tions in minds of conscientious
Americans, who are anxious for a
league of nations, whose fears have
. been roused by suggested construc
tions of the league which Its lan
guage does not justify and whose
fears could be removed without any
considerable change of language.
"TUMULTY."
"Paris. March 18. 1919. Tu
multy: In reply to ycur No. It,
appreciate Mr. Taft's offer of sugges
tions and would welcome them. The
sooner they are sent the better. You
need give yourself no concern about
my yielding anything with regard to
the embodiment of the proposed con
vention in the treaty.
"WOODROW WILSON."
"The White House, Washington,
March 18. 1919. President Wilson,
Paris.
"Following from William H. Taft:
"'If you bring back the treaty with
the league of nations In it, make
more specific reservations of the
Monroe doctrine, fix a term for the
duration of the league and the limit
of armament, require expressly una
nimity of action In executive coun
cil and body of delegates, and add to
article XV a provision that where
the executive council of the body of
delegates finds the difference to grow
out of an exclusively domestic policy,
it shall recommend no settlement, the
ground will be completely cut from
under the opponents of the league in
the senate. Addition to article XV
will answer objection as to Japanese
immigration as well as tariffs under
article XXI. Reservation of the Mon
roe doctrine might be as follows:
"Any American state or states may
protect the integrity of American ter
ritory and the independence of the
government whose territory It Is,
whether a member of the leaguo or
not, and may, in the interest of
American peace, object to and prevent
the further transfer of American ter
ritory or sovereignty to any Euro
pean or non-American power.
"Monroe doctrine reservation alone
would probably carry the treaty, but
others would make it certain.
(Signed) "WM. H. TAFT."
"TUMULTY."
"The White House, Washington.
March 21. 1919. President Wilson.
Paris: The following letter from Hon.
Wm. H. Taft: 'I have thought per
haps It might help more If 1 was
somewhat more specific than I was
In the memorandum note 1 sent you
yesterday, and I therefore enclose an
other memorandum.'
Duration of the 1 covenant Add to the
preamble the following "from the obliga
tion of which any member of the league
may withdraw after July 1, 1920. by two
yean' notice in writing, duly filed with
the secretary-general of the league."
Explanation I have no doubt that the
construction put upon 'the agreement
would be what 1 understand the president
has already said it should be. namely that
any nation may withdraw from it upon
reasonable no'.lce, which perhapa would
be a year. I think, however, it might
strengthen the covenant If there was a
fixed duration. It would completely re
move the objection that it la perpetual in
its operation.
Duration of armament limit Add to the
first paragraph of article Vlll the fol
lowing: "At the end of every five years, such
limits of armament for the several govern
ments shall be re-examined by the execu
tive council, and agreed upon by them ad
In the first instance."
Explanation The duration of the ob
ligation to limit armament, which now
may only be changed by consent of the
executive council, has come in for crit
icism. 1 should think this might thus be
avoided, without in any way Injuring the
covenant. Perhaps three years is enough,
but I should think five years would be
batter.
Unanimous action by the executive coun
cil of body of delegates Insert in article
IV, after the first paragraph, the follow
in;: "Other action taken or recommendations
made by the executive council or the body
of delegates shall be by the unanimous
action of the countries represented by the
members or delegates, unless otherwise
specifically stated."
Explanation Great objection Is made to
the power of the executive council by a
majority of the members and the body of
delegates to do the things which they are
authorised to do in the covenant. In view
of the specific provision that the executive
council and the body of delegates may act
by a majority of ita members as to their
procedure. I feel confident that, except
in cases where otherwise provided, both
bodies can only act by unanimous vote of
the countries represented. If that be the
right construction, then there can be no
objection to have it specifically stated,
and it will remove emphatic objection al
ready made on this ground. It Is a com
plete safeguard against involving the
United States primarily in small distant
wars to which the United States has no
immediate relation, for the reason that the
plan for taking care of euch a war, to be
recommended or advised by the executive
council, mutt be approved by a representa
tive of the United States on the board.
Monroe doctrine Add to article X:
(a) "A state or states of America, a
member or members of the league, and
oompetent to fulfill this obligation In re
spect to American territory or indepen
dence, may, In event of the aggression,
actual or threatened, expressly assume the
obligation and relieve the European or
non-American members of the league from
it until they shall be advised by such
American state or states of the need for
their aid."
(b) "Any such American state or states
may protect the integrity of any American
territory and the sovereignty of the gov
ernment whose territory It Is, whether a
member of the league or not, and may. In
the Interest of American peace, object to
and prevent the further transfer of Amer
ican territory or sovereignty to any Euro
pean or non-American power."
Explanation Objection "has been made
that under article X. European govern
ments would come to America with force
and be concerned In matters from which
heretofore the United States has excluded
them, Ihis is not true, because Spain fought
Chile, in Seward's time, without objection
from the t'nlted States, and so Germany
ai,d England Instituted a blockade against
Venezuela in Roosevelt's time. This fear
could be removed, however, by the first
of the above paragraphs.
Paragraph H Is the Monroe doctrine pure
and simple. I forwarded this In my first
memorandum.
It will be uUKrved that article X only
covers the integrity and Independence of
members of the league. There may be some
American countries which are not suffi
ciently responsible to make it wise to in
vite them Into the league. This second
paragraph covers them. The expression
"European or non-American" Is inserted
for the purpose of indicating that Great
Britain, though it has American dominion,
la not to acquire further territory or
sovereignty.
Japanese Immigration and Tariffs Ada
to article XV,: "If the difference between
the parties shall be found by the executive
council or the body of delegates to be a
question which by International law la
solely within the domestic Jurisdiction and
policy of one of the parties, it shall so
report and not recommend a aettlement of
the dispute."
Explanation Objection Is made to ar
ticle XV that under it terms the United
Stales would be bound by unanimous rec
ommendation for settlement of a dispute
in respect to any issue foreign or do
mestic; that It therefore might be af
fected seriously, and unjustly, by recom
mendations forbidding tariffs on importa
tions. In my Judgment, we could only
rely, on the public opinion of the world
evidenced by the body of delegates, not
to interfere with our domestic legisianon
and action. Nor do I think that under the
league as it is. we covenant to abide by
a unanimous recommendation. But If there
is a specific exception made in respect
to matters completely within the domestic
Jurisdiction and legislation of a country,
the whole criticism la removed. The re
publican senators are trying to stir up
anxiety among republicans lest this is to
be a limitation upon our tariff. The presl-
Hnnt hn atrenriv sneclf ica 1 1 V met the ob
jection as to limitation upon the tariff
when the 14 points were under discussion.
Nevertheless In this respect to the present
language of the covenant, it would help
much to meet and remove objection, and
cut the ground under senatorial obstruc
tion. Prospect of Ratification.
"My impression is that if the one
article already sent, on the Monroe
doctrine, be inserted in the treaty,
sufficient republicans who signed the
'round robin' would probably retreat
from their position and vote for rati
fication so that it would carry. If
the other suggestions were adopted.
I feel confident that all but a few
who oppose any league would be
driven to accept them and to stand
for the league."
(End letter.)
TUMULTY.
The White House. Washington,
March 28. 1919. The President of the
United States. Paris: Following Just
received from Mr. Taft: "Venture to
suggest to president that failure to
reserve Monroe doctrine more specif
ically In face of opposition in con
ference will give great weight to
objection that league as first re
ported endangers doctrine. It will
seriously embarrass advocates of
league, It will certainly lead to senate
amendments embodying doctrine and
other provisions "n form less likely
to secure subsequent acquiescence of
other nations than proper reservation
now. Deems some kind of Monroe
doctrine amendment now to article X
vital to acceptance of league' in this
country. I say this .ith full realiza
tion that complications in confer
ence are many and not clearly under
stood here. A strong and successful
stand now will carry the league.
TUMULTY.
Letter from Mr. Taft:
"New York, N. Y., April 10, 1919.
My Dear Mr. Tumulty: We are much
troubled over the report that the
Monroe doctrine amendment to the
covenant is being opposed by Eng
land and Japan. Will you be good
enough to send the enclosed to the
president? We had a meeting today
of the executive council of the League
to Enforce Peace. Dr. Lowell and I,
at the Instance of the league, will
be glad '.o have this matter presented
directly to the president by cable.
Sincerely yours,
"WM. H. TAFT.
"Hon. Joseph P. Tumulty, Secretary
to the President, the White House,
Washington. D. C."
(Enclosure.)
"The White House, Washington,
April 13, 1919. President Wilson,
Paris: Following is 'sent' at the re
quest of Mr. Taft: 'Friends of the
covenant are seriously alarmed over
report that no amendment will be
made more specifically safeguarding
Monroe doctrine. At full meeting of
executive committee of League to En
force Peace, with 30 members from
states present, unanimous opinion
that without such amendment repub
lican senators will certainly defeat
ratification of treaty because public
opinion will sustain them. With such
amendment, treaty will be promptly
ratified.
(Signed) "WILLIAM H. TAFT.
"A. LAWRENCE LOWELL."
TUMULTY.
(To be continued tomorrow.)
RAIL LABOR BOARD
HALED INTO COURT
Road Gets Restraining Order
From Judge.
MEMBERS WELCOME SUIT
PAVING APPEAL IS MADE
EAST STARK FROM 20TH TO
2 6TH INCLUDED IX PLEA.
East Side Business Men's Club
, Asks County Commissioners
and Tax Body to Aid.
Appeal Is beins made jointly to
the tax conservation commission and
the Multnomah county commission
ers by the Kast Side Business Men's
club for the paving of an 18-foot
strip in East Stark street from East
Twentieth to East Twenty-sixth
streets.
If this is done, it is declared, pri
vate property owners will undertake
to provide for the continued paving
of East Stark street from East Twenty-sixth
to East Forty-third street,
thus providing an important paved
thoroughfare that would carry a
heavy traffic
The appeal to each commission was
practically the same. In the letter to
the county commissioners, the club
said:
"We again' renew our request that
the county pave a strip 18 feet wide
on East Stark street (the base line),
from near East Twentieth to East
Twenty-sixth streets, a little less
than six blocks, between the Lone Fir
and St. Mary's cemeteries.
"The county owes this much to the
old first families of Portland. There
are perhaps 8000 lot owners In the
two cemeteries. 75 per cent of whom
cannot be located; hence the only
way this can be hard-surfaced is for
the county to do It-
"Multnomah county has paved East
Eightieth street. Division street,
East Seventeenth street, interstate
bridge approaches. Columbia boule
vard. Cornell road. St. Helens road.
Slavin road, etc.. for entrances Into
the city of Portland, which city is,
of course, a part of Multnomah
county and pays better than 90 per
cent of the county taxes (which we
seemingly at times forget). The city
cannot pave this portion of East
Stark street, but the county can, and
we believe that sufficient should be
Included in this year's budget to pave
this six blocks.
"You do this and we will endeavor
to get the property owners and the
city to pave the remainder from East
Twenty-sixth to East Forty-third
streets, and greatly Improve this base
line level grade thoroughfare. .
"Property owners eastward say
that It la useless for them to pave
their portion unless the street can be
paved from East Twenty-sixth to
East Twentieth streets, through the
cemeteries."
Case Declared Means for Settling
Many Perplexing Problems
Subjects of Tilts.
CHICAGO, Dec. 9. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) Buffeted about by the
criticism of both railroad and rail
way workers for more than a year
anj a half, the United States rllroad
labor board finally was haled into
federal court today, when it was made
defendant in an injunction suit
brought by the Pennsylvania railroad,
which procured a temporay order
from Judge Landis restraining the
board from handing down a decision
against the roads in the shopmen's
controversy.
Members of the board said they
"welcomed the suit," as the means of
settling many perplexing questions
which have been the subject of many
tilts between the transportation lines'
the employes and board.
Hearing; to Be Today.
Hearing on a permanent order will
be held before Judge Landis tomor
row. The railroad's petition is based on
two allegations:
That the board has Jurisdiction only
over cases over which a disagreement
has arisen and that the board has ex
ceeded its powers in prescribing rules
for the selection of employe repre
sentatives in negotiations with the
carriers.
Today's injunction has the effect of
holding up a decision on the Pennsyl
vania's citation before the labor
board October 20, when the road was
summoned to show cause why It
should not be declared in violation of
the board's orders.
Order Is Disregarded.
The controversy arose over the
road's disregard of an order from the
board to hold an election to name em
ploye representatives for negotia
tion of shop rules with the carrier.
The carriers' bill asked an injunc
tion restraining the labor board and
its individual members, among other
things, from prescribing any regula
tion relating to rules, working condi
tions or wages without having first
acquired Jurisdiction thereof as pro
vided in the transportation act.
Other Decisions Involved.
The Pennsylvania also asked that
the board be restrained from enforc
ing all previous decisions In the case.
If granted the way to nullification of
any or all board orders by a federal
court would be open, it was said.
Board members today declared they
expected to see their rulings upheld
In court. Shop union officials, feel
ing that the court action was entirely
between the Pennsylvania and the
board, said they would take no part
in the suit.
3.
.. W sV
"OPEN SHOP" IS PROCLAIMED
Eleven Independent Packing Com
panies Sign Notice.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. 9. Eleven inde
pendent packing companies today
signed a notice printed 4n newspapers
that they would operate under the
"open shop" plan on and after Janu
ary 2, and at the same time set forth a
new scale of wages which includes a
cut of 8 per cent for piece workers
and others ranging from 3 to 7H
cents an hour.
The notice says that action by the
companies has been postponed as long
as possible, and wth a srlke threat
ening unless the contracts with union
employes are renewed, the "open
shop" has been adopted.
At East St. Louis, where striking
employes of three plants have re
mained out of work since Monday,
the situation remains unchanged.
CUT IX RAIL WAGES PLANNED
Schedules Proposing Reductions
Formulated at New York.
NEW YORK. Dec. 9. Schedules
proposing wage cuts from 10 to 30 per
cent for train service, shop and main
tenance of way employes of railroad
lines north of the Ohio and east of
the Mississippi, were formulated to
day at a conference of officials. The
reductions, which would take effect
late this month, must be submitted to
the railroad labor board for rejection
or approval.
The officials said the roads would
begin separate conferences with their
employes early next week on the pro
posed pay cuts.
EILERS CHARGES DROPPED
THREE EMBEZZLEMENT IN
DICTMENTS DISMISSED.
CABS OF THANKS.
We wish, to express our sincere
thanks to the many friends who
assisted us during our late bereave
ment, and also for the beautiful floral
offerings.
Adv. P. J. WARD AND FAMILY,
Failure to Convict in Strongest of
Four Cases Is Cause of
Court Action.
Three Indictments charging larceny
by embezslement which remained
against Hy J. Eilers, head of the Ore
gon Eilers Music house, were dis
missed by Presiding Circuit Judge
Morrow yesterday on .the representa
tion of Joseph L. Hammersly, deputy
district attorney, to the effect that
it would be a waste of time and money
to go to trial on any one of them.
Eilers was tried on a fourth indict
ment and found not guitty by a jury
in the court of Circuit Judge Staple
ten. It was the strongest of the four
cases and failure to convict in that
instance led Hammersly to despair of
conv'ction in any of the others. The
trial lasted about two weeks and was
a considerable expense to the county.
In his statement before the presid
ing Judge, Hammersly declared that
no influence had been brought to bear
which m'ght affect his belief in any
way, but that he was certain It would
not be worth while to go ahead w'th
prosecutions. Another point which
he brought out was that the recent
decision of the circuit court of ap
peals In San Francisco to the effect
that the Oregon Eilers Music house
was one with the Eilers Music house
and subsidiaries would make it very
difficult to persuade a Jury that the
taking of money from one firm and
putting It into another was embez
zlement, if the same man owned both
and both were held equally liable for
debts.
The story of a
mother and wife"
woman whose hus
band wanted some
fun.
When she discov
ered that "another
woman" was furnish
ing what she failed
to do she started in
to catch up.
It's a good educa
tion on "how to hold
your husband."
Cast Includes:
Theodore Roberta,
and T. Roy Barnes
(of "Scratch My
Back" fame.)
A
Paramount
Picture
UBELOSfSOti
in
ExlT-theVAMP'
Kinograms
and
Comedy
JOHN BRITZ
and the big Peoples Orchestra
In Accompaniment and in Concert Tomorrow at 2:15 P. M.
PROGRAMME
L Suite Gitanilla (a) Reverie
(b) Lea Romani Lmcome
2. Second Movement from Symphonie Pathetique Tschaikowsky
3. The Mooch (The Jazz Fox Trot with a Spanish swing.)
CLUB CONGRESS IS URGED
EVENT PLANNED AS CONTRIBU
TION TO EXPOSITION.
Phone your want ads to The Orego
nian. Main 7070. Automatic 560-25.
Oregon Farmer Believes Portland
Can Make Agricultural History
of State and Nation.
"A world's fair in these latter days
without some definite contribution to
the basic Industry of agriculture is
like leaving Hamlet out of the play."
said Edwin A. Smith, managing editor
of the Oregon Farmer, yesterday. "It
is like a man building himself a fine
house, electrically fitted throughout
and located on a hard-surfaced high
way, and having plenty of money, but
with the government rationing out
food because of a menacing shortage
of production.
"In his message to congress this
week President Harding repeated the
warning: 'The base of the pyramid
of civilization which rests upon the
soil Is shrinking through the drift of
the population from farm to city. For
a generation we have been expressing
more or less concern about this tend
ency. Economists have warned and
statesmen have deplored. We thought
for a time that modern conveniences
and the more intimate contact would
halt the movement but it has gone
steady on."
"Today the best means for halting
that menacing movement from farm
to city is the far-reaching activity of
the boys and girls club work. The
big men of the country gladly gave
every honor and recognition to the
600 boys and girls, picked from the
300.000 boys and girls clubs of the
country at the Chioago International
Livestock exposition last month.
These men saw in this organization
work of the boys and girls the largest
promise of increased meat animal
production.
"Hence the Oregon Farmer is more
and more convinced that ita proposi
tion submitted to and Indorsed by the
1925 exposition management for an
international congress of boys and
girls, will be the most effective con
tribution the great world's fair In
Portland can make to the agricultural
industry of the state and nation."
Woman, 95, Mother of Three Wars.
CENTRALIA. Wash.. Dec. 9. (Spe
cial.) Wednesday the General Lew
Wallace circle, Ladles of the Grand
Army of the Republic, obligated Mrs
Charlotte Lampanius as an honorary
member. Mrs. Lampanius is 96 years
of age and is the mother of a civil
war veteran, grandmother of a Span
ish war veteran and great-grandmother
of five world war veterans.
She was born in New York state Au
gust 18. 1826. She camo to Centralla
about two years ago from Minnesota.
Bat vm can Promele
ctaaa, n tansy ccDdiihtn
keep year f yes Clean, Clear and Healihy.
Writs for rrse Mjm Care Book.
PLAYER PIANOS
1922 Prices
On Terms You
Can Afford
REED-FRENCH
PIANO CO.,
Washington at 12th
OPEN EVENINCS
KIRK'S MILITARY SHOP
61 Sixth Street, Corner Pine, Portland," Oregon
While on Your Shopping Do Not Forget This Store Has a
Very Nice Line of Useful and Ornamental Gifta
and Christmas Remembrances.
For the man that smokes, (five him a SMOKING STAND
Price only U0 or an ASH TRAY $1.00
HALL TREE, made of rifle with base and hanger for
clothes, hats, etc.; a beautiful gift $15.00
Fern Stand made of bayonets, brass bowl $5.00
BRASS LAMPS, SCONES, PLACQUES, CANDELABRA
Sheeplined Coats $12.00 Sheeplined Overcoats ..$25
Sheeplined Yeats $4.00 Leather Jerkins Sti.OO
Sweaters, with or without sleeves n.c to ...7.
Pocket Knives 200-812 Spiral Puttees $ 1 .25
Plush Robes to $4.75
Dress Rain Coats. . .$12.75
22-Cal. Rifles $0-$K.25
School Hags 7 ." 0
Cotton Shirts $1-$1.I5
Nary Watch Caps 150
Auto Robes up to S25
Leather Bags $2.75
Pillow Tops up to $:.50
MackinawH up to $SM0
Flannel Shirts $3.50
Money Belts $2.00
You are invited to inspect our line and not required to pur
chase. You will find our prices are right.
Telephone Broadway 5010. Mail orders promptly filled.