The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-03-04
SOCIALIST VIEW OF
ARBITRATION MATTER
Victor L. Berger Writes of the
Roosevelt and U. S. Sen-
ate Contest.
Comments on Proposed Arbi-
tration Measure With
Foreign Powers.

Milwaukee, March 2.--Some of the
most interesting criticism on the recent
rupture between President Roosevelt
and the Senate is being furnished by
Victor L. Berger of this city. He
writes:
Even the most devout Christian be-
comes tncensed if some one happens
to step on his corns, and, according to
the assurances of Editor Watterson Of
the Courier Journal Of St. Louis, the
senators of the United States are not
devout Christians, but gray wolves"
A rough rider has stepped upon the
corns of these gray wolves" Gf, in
deed, wolves have any corns) and they
howl in chorus. But they do not only
howl, they also bite; they have shame
fully driven the Rough Rider to flight.
Fifty to nine-in the history of man,
no president has ever been defeated
in like manner.
The "Arbitration Treaties" which
have been formed with half dozen
of the European states are the matter
In question. These treaties are the
sheerest nonsense. They have abso-
lutely no significance. In all these
treaties, it is provided that no ques-
tons touching the vital interests, the
domain, and even the "honor" of the
nation, courts of arbitration are not
tc convene. According to these treaties
only such disputes are to be arbitrated
as would never lead to war, whether
| such treaties existed or not, because the
cause is too insignificant to occasion
a modern war, which would terminate
in the partial or entire destruction of
an opponent. They are simply paltry
n1orsels, thrown out by the politicians"
to the disciples Of peace, who in turn
fancy that they have gained something
of vast Importance and revel in this
thought.
The United States are the champion
of arbitration. Just as Mr.. Alfred Love
the Quaker from Philadelphia. comes
forward with a proposal of arbitra-
| ton, every time a quarrel occurs so
do the United States in international
affairs which are none of their bust
ness. But, of course. in their own at
fairs, it is something entirely different.
When Spain offered to have court Of
arbitration, the intelligence was kept
secret in Washington until all prepara-
tons for war were made. When
Aguinaldo demanded a decision by ar
bitrat1on to ascertain who attacked
Manila, it was said: mo negotiations
with rebels"
But courts Of arbitration seem to be
the fad. Treaties have been formed
by the dozen between European pow
ers, and the United States could not
remain in the rear. Roosevelt is man
of action, and he had six or seven OF
them ready in short order land sub
nlitted them to the senate. But here
the trouble began. The president and
the senate constitute the treaty max
ing power of the United States. But
the president paid no attention to the
senate in concluding these treaties. It
would have been wise, indeed, had he
asked that body through its commit
tee on foreign affairs whether such
treaties were agreeable and in what
form. But he failed to do this. And
his agreements made it possible that
the debts Of the South consisting in
several millions could be dragged be-
fore such q court Of arbitration, which
would have to acknowledge the obli-
CATION. The South flew into rage.
> But that was not quite sufficient to
} break the backbone Of these treaties;
the manner III which the president con-
Guided them, ignoring the senate, did
the business. Although the senate did
not condemn these agreements, It so
, changed them that in every single case
which had to be decided by a court of
arbitration, a treaty, submitted to and
ratified by the senate, became COM
pulsory, and this made all such agree
! ments worthless. The president, on
the other hand, decided not to submit
them in the revised form to any pow
ers concerned. They are dead.
The prerogatives of the senate have
been rudely handled by tn president.
He has stepped on their corns with
out mercy. That was fatal to him.
Even the majority Of Republicans vot-
ed against him, among them men like
Lodge, who for years had been his
personal friend. But this was only the
eliminating point Of theh hatred cher
ished by the gray wolves. against
Roosevelt. He has emphasized the
presidency at the expense of congress-.
He has contrived the Panama and
San Domingo affairs. He has stolen
the thunder from the Bryanites and
wants to compel the representa- tives Of
railroad trusts and other monopolies
to accept antitrust laws. They hate
him in their Utmost souls.
And now? Thus far, in conflicts be-
tween the president and the senate,
the president has had to yield. Re-
member for instance, Garfield But
meanwhile, times have changed. AS
the bulwark of the money power the
senate is scorned and despised. while
the president Is popular. 1t makes lit
tie difference whether he deserves this
popularity or not, he possesses it. AL
though the seQate is legally right, popu-
lar opinion will be with the usurping
president. Will this spur him on to
action? Have things gone so far that
this Caesar of the populace can sub
ject the aristocracy? Will the senate
20 then Roman way or will it re-estab-
lish itself with the people by deciding
upon the popular election? That might
be the final card which it could deal