Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-27
Outside Point of View

Some of the sentmentalists are be-
wailing the action Of the senate of the
United States in amending to death
President Taft's much talked Of gen.
eral arbitration treaty with Great
Britain and France. The proposal was
arbitration Of all questions which the
big nations could not agree upon or
failing that The Hague tribunal should
decide whether some questions in dis
put should be arbitrated or not. 1t
almost reconciles one that we have a
senate, 50 obtuse on such matters, as
Senator Lorimer's case. to have this
same senate promptly amend the treaty
by stating some things this country
would not agree to subject to arbitra-
ton. Two, will be noticed in what
follows. One the Monroe doctrine, the
other moneyed claims.
To some it will be news. to others
nonsense, but to a few who know OF
the inside history it will be a recital Of
facts. that not so long ago a matter
came up which could not be arbitrated.
The public generally We're informed
the reason Of Taft's order to suddenly
place several thousand Of the regular
army on the Mexican border. was to
protect our interests on this side OF the
border line and to insure strict neu-
trality The facts are. Japan had near
ly negotiated by purchase a foothold IN
Mexico. This has been officially de-
MED. but a few know it to be TACT.
President Taft knew it and our army
was hurried to the Mexican line, and
they would nave CrussSd It too: the
hour such a trade was completed and
possession given. President Taft would
not have waited for The Hague trl-
bural to say whether we should aroi-
trate the Monroe doctrine. 1t would
have taken at least a year for that ols
body to have assembled and acted.
Meanwhile the Japs could have fortl-
fed the purchased land and assembled
a navy. which would have made our
long sea coast line, a very weak affair
in case we resented and refused to be
bound by the decision Of the arbitrat-
ors President Taft knows Of all these
things. vet in the face of it. seriously
sent to the senate. general arnltra-
ton treaty.
1ts not to our credit. but small
South American country. says we
seized strip Of land from ocean 10
ocean to dig our Panama canal. MOI
to go into the history Of the claimed
fake rebellion, not to admit we stirred
up that rebellion as an excuse for the
occupation of the soil OF a weaker
country, omit all thee laims and state
ments now being made, these facts are
before US. We did take that strip OF
land, Colombia claims now we should
pay 500 900, 900 for 1t, we make no OF
fers to pay and refuse to arbitrate as
they suggest. President Taft knows of
the facts yet seriously advocates
general arbitration treaty.
Why should men Of the ability of
President Taft solemnly and seriously
propose compulsory arbitration The
very words suggest impossibilities.
England has today strike OF miners
numbering over a million men. Why
not compel the mine owners and
strikers to arbitrate? Simply because
they can not compel the men to go to
work at wages named by the arbitra-
tors, nor can they compel the owners
to pay the wages the arbitrators say
they should or shall pay. Furthermore,
no power exists or can be utilized to
compel these strikers and mine owners
to leave the question to arbitration. 1t
is true "a minimum wage" law can be
made and enforced, but no power ex-
lists in self governing nation, to COM
rel mine owners to operate their works
at loss nor to compel men to work at
less wages than they see fit to demand
Arbitration is q beautiful! thing. but
in practice is only possible when the
disputing parties see fit to agree to
arbitrate