Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-08
ROOSEVELT WAKES ELOQUENT
ON PEACE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Strong Editorial in The Outlook of Thursday COL Roose-
welt Severely Crczes the Arbitration Treaties Recently
Presented to the United States Senate-Beeves in Arb
uafon "Whree II Is Practicable

proposal to srbitrate include the Monroe
doctrine, the Plat amendment with Gu
ba, the payment OF state bonds to Euro
pean bondhoIders, the question whether
various European countries are entitled
10 the same concessions that Canada Is
20 receive under the reciprocity agree
nient. The right OF other foreign nations
to interfere In Panama. our own right
to exclude any immigrants whom we
choose to excluded If those questions
arose. 1 am sure our representatives
would. privately or publicly, inform for
eign powers land. indeed, would have to
inform foreign powers). that the Amer
lean people would never abide by an
agreement to arbitrate them; In which
case the only proper course to follow
Is that followed by the senate commit
tee and to say in honest fashion that
there are certain questions which this
nation will not arbitrate at the dicta-
ton OF an outside body. Critics of the
senate In this matter talk as IL II had
'usurped' right in reality the senate
has merely performed a duty.
Most men Of knowledge. who are will
ing 20 think. know perfectly wen that
this country would not, as a matter OF
fact. keep an agreement TO arbitrate all
questions OF vital honor and interest.
even though It were so unwise as to
a
put US in the position of promising what
we viii not and cannot perform. In such
a matter the indulgence or false pretense
In the present would with absolute GER
tainty be followed by the breaking OF
faith in the future
THE FATAL OBJECTION.
The fatally Objectionable feature of
the proposed treaty is the clause pro-
viding that the joint high commission.
which may be composed conclusIvely of
national OF the two countries. but which
also may be composed exclusively OF for
eigners, may. by unanimous vote, or by
vote of all but one OF its members. de-
termine that any given question what
ever must be arbitrated. 1t is difficult
TO characterize this provision truthfuIly
without seeming 10 be offensive Merely
to speak OF It as silly comes far short
Of saying what should be said. It is
arguable that In certain cases either
of the two component parts OF the
treaty-making power. the president or
the senate should delegate to the other
for certain purposes. the power OF ex-
elusive action.
But no sound argument can be made
for permitting both the president and
the senate to delegate to outsiders DOS
'sibly to foreigners. the exercise of a
fundamental and vital power The de-
tails OF carrying into effect a great and
far-reaching policy can appropriately be
delegated; but the elected servants of
the people betray the interest OF the
people IL they shirk the duty of them
selves deciding what that policy shall
be. II would be quite proper to delegate
10 the joint high commission many sub
ordinate functions; but the high, the SUI
preme function Of deciding whether a
question is OF such vital Importance to
the country that 1t is or is not arbitra-
BILE. cannot with propriety be delegated
TO any outsider by either the president
or the senate. They are elected to per
form exactly all OF the vital duties en-
ployed In such decisions.
PRESIDENT WOULD FAIL.
IF the president. after consulting with
his constitutional advisers, the senate
could not make up his own mind about
such vital question and had to have
IL made up for him by outsiders-pos-
sibiy foreigners. and certainly not re-
sponsible TO the people-it would be
proof positive that he was not At to
hold the exalted position to which he
had been elected. a president unfit
TO make such a decision himself and
willing to have somebody else make II
for him. would also be unfit to perform
any of the really important duties of the
presidency.
we. the people Of the United States,
cannot and viii not surrender to out
siders the powers to determine whether
or not we are At to decide for our
selves what are our vital needs and
what the policies proper for meeting
these needs. In other words, Uncle Sam
does not intend 20 wrong anyone. but
neither does he intend to bind himself.
IL his pocket is picked, his home bur-
CARRIED or face slapped. to 'arbitrate'
with the wrongdoer; and as long as he
does not intend so to bind himself. II