The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-08-08
CALLS ON CHURCH.
President Taft Appeals to the
Methodist Organization
TOAid in His Campaign for Unis
versal Peace.
TO NATION AT LARGE
Through Chautauqua Audience
He Calls for Help.
Much Depends on Attitude of the
U. S. Senate.
70 NATION AT LARGE

President Taft Travelled 400 miles
through Maryland and West Virginia
by special train to appeal to the peo-
pie of the United States to use their
moral influence to have the senate rati-
fly the British and French arbitration
treaties and the treaties with Nicar-
aqua and Honduras. His appeal was
chautauqua of the Methodist Episcopal
church, but in it the president includ-
ed the rest of the nation. as well
Il observe said the president, that
there is some suggestion that oy rati-
flying this treaty the senate may in
some way abdicate its function Of
treaty making. I confess myself un-
able to perceive the treaty in such
point
ITO have these treaties not ratified
by the senate of the United States or
to have any hesitation and discussion
of a serious character in respect TO
them would halt the movement toward
general peace, which has made sub
stGntial advance in the last ten years.
To secure the ratification of the trea-
tics therefore, appeal must be made
to the moral sense Of the nation and
while that is not entirely in the keep
ing of the churches, certainly they
may exert a powerful influence in the
promotion of any effective instrument
tality to secure permanent peace
Leaving the arbitration treaties be
q,
sort of popular support OF the treatles
with Honduras and Nicaragua
There is no issue before the senate
so acute in respect to the cause OF
peace as the confirmation of these Cen
/ trail American treaties" said the presi-
dent. while 1 admit the greater inn
/ portance of universal treaties OF arbi-
tration in che long run and as affect
! ing the world at large, yet in respect
| of American interests, in respect or
peace in this hemisphere, they are not
| equal ir. Importance to the confirma-
| tion of these Central American trea-
ties"
American conve ions. the president
highly praised former President Roose-
Welt. He spoke Of the tendency of the
United States to extend their helping
! hand to less powerful people and in
| sfanced Mr.. Rocsevelt's Intervention
in cuba. That tendency was evidenced.
he said, "by the wonderfully success
full Intervention by Theodore Roosevelt
as president of the United States IN Sc
curi1 g peace between Russia ana
People Are Interested.
The president said in part;
Il have been surprised to note with
what fervor the plain people of every
| uation welcome the proposal of uni
versal arbitration not because their
real interest in the practical adoption
| Of the plan is not greater than all other
classes in the community but because
it is a somewhat abstruse case, in the
success of which they might not be ex-
pected to take an immediate interest
! OF course in war it is the common,
plain people that have to bear most Of
the suffering. They have to pay most
of the taxes, the hav to do most o
the fighting and they secure the least
benefit and least glory"
1.-THE treaties" the president proceed
ed to say. provided that every ques-
ton of a justiciable nature should be
submitted to tribunal of arbitration
and that they defined what justiciable
means.
by this treaty. if It is ratified. the
executive and the senate. representing
the United States, agree to settle all
tresty, by arbitration or through
claim.
"chould the treaty be ratified. the
senate. exa city as the executive. will be
in honor bound by its obligations in
good faith to perform the offices which
the main treaty provides shall be per-
formed on the side of the United
States and then to abide the result anu
to acquiesce or, insofar as may be. per-
form and execute the judgment of the
tribunal.
Il observe that there is some sugges-
tion that by ratifying this treaty the
senate may in some way abdicate its
functions of treaty making. / confess
myself unable to perceive the sub
stance in such point. The fact that
the senate has the power to make a
treaty nece ssarily involves it's powers
to bind itself as part of the government
to the obligations of the treaty. That
is inherent in the treaty making power.
From time immemorial governments
have bound themselves to abide the
judgment of third parties in contrc-
versies between them.
"One of the commonest kinds IF
Continued on Page Eight.