The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-10-13
PRESIDENT TELLS CALIFORNIA
PEOPLE OF THE ARBITRATION
TREATIES.
WANT $ THE WORLDS PEACE
Peaceful Conditions Among the Coun-
tries of Central and South America
Will Prove of lnestmabIe Value to
United States.

Sacramento, Cal. oct. 13.-Pres.-
dent Taft delivered his first impor-
tant speech in California, here today
from the steps of the state capitol
His speech here was in behalf of the
proposed treaties with Nicaragua.
Taft said in I art:
The subject of the ratification OF
treaties by the senate is frequently
confidential, and that prevents puDl'c
discussion of the pros and cons which
might sometimes be useful Ireatles
are much less the subject of pubic
consideration than are statutes, ana
vet when ratified they are as binding
upon all of us as statutes, because DN
the constitution they become the law
of the land. In this respect they dlffer
from treaties of other governments,
which are only international CON
tracts. Sometimes the senate removes
the Injunction of secrecy from treaties
which | have submitted to the senate
and which that body has now publish
ell and laid before you for consideration
and discussion, that | call your atten-
ton today. They are the treaties J
made with the Republic of Honduras
and the Republic of Nicaragua, g,
the purpose of securing a loan to each
of these Central American Republics.
we have heard a great deal dur
! ing the past six months in favor OF
/ General arbitration treaties for the
= romotion of the peace of the world
believe there has been of late more
genuine expression of sentiment
among all the people of the earth for
peace than ever before in the world
history. The craving for some ehec'
tive means of promoting peace grows
not so much out of actual war as oul
of the desperation with which the
great nations are increasing the stu
pendous burden of armies and arma
ment. making Europe am armed camp
With the growing menace of bank
ruptcy.
The fact that we have had very
little war in the last 125 years, anC
one of the reasons has been the rival
ry in preparation for war and the Ger
tainty of financial disaster to some
nations which must follow.
Among these great. nations ther'
is the conservatism of domestic sta
bilitv and the law-abiding character o
the population. Universal treaties o
arbitration for such countries are o
the highest importance as probabl
furnishing a means by which all ma
be induced ultimately to reduce thei
, armaments, when it shall become al
parent that arbitration is a real an
practical substitute for war.
| would not therefore minimize III
, importance of such treaties in the u
innate cause of peace; but | wish I
point out that at present wars chief
arise, not between well-ordered ma
tons having well-armed, wellrecruil
ed. and well-disciplined forces. but on
of internicine strife. They grow ou
of the rebellion or revolution Of par
of people against the constitute
authority of the other part They Pre-
ceed from the lack of stability o
government and cupidity and the an
birion of partisan leaders amons tn
people. There are countries wher
the occupation of revolutionist ma
: become a profession and the unhapp
common people of such countr
= have no time for peaceful pursuits
I and perforce are driven into guerrill
i warfare for mere self-protection. Stal
vation succeeds plenty in countries a
productive as any in the world. Tn
institutions of civil liberty. if the
a ever were inaugurated under a higl
2 sounding constitution, cease to eXis
Y revolutions follow each other in rapi
= succession, the finances of the govern
e ment are in hopeless confusion. and
= is stretch of the imagination to ca
( what little authority remains a goV
. ernment at all. Such has been tn
fate of some of the Central America