The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-01-20

Group OF Armenian girls and Womel
thousands of their sisters.
.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
President Wilson himself says: i,
have had in mind on thought any
or particular danger
arising out of our relations with
other nations of the world, and there
is reason to hope that no question in
controversy between this and other
governments will lead to any serious
breach of amical relations grave as
some difference of attitude and poll
cy have been and may turn out to be.
PRACTICABILITY OF THE PLAN
Granted, then, that such a refer
dun on preparedness is dsirable, it
may still be doubted by some timid
souls If it be practicable or may not
require machinery which as yet the
nation does not possess. While it is !
true enough that the federal govern
ment has no method by which the
voters may compel the submission of |
any question to the electorate, there
is inherent in the very nature of !
every representative law-making |
body the right voluntarily to call
upon the voters to express their as
sent or dissent as to given legisla-
tive proposal. This is undoubtedly
the privilege and the highest duty Of
the Gath Congress now in session at
" asnington.9 The decision of the re-
sponsible majority in that Congress
to do this thing-to take the voters
into their counsels and so to definine-
ly determine the intelligent will of
the people at this fateful parting of
the ways would undoubtly redund
to the credit of the party in power
more than any thing else it could do
Such action would go far to estab-
lish the claim of it's leaders to the
belief in the principals of govern
ment by the consent of the governed
to their faith in fundamental democ-
| racy.
| FORM OF PROPOSED REFEREDUM
| It only remains, therefore, to con-
slider the best form in which to state
the issue Of preparedness now before
the country and to suggest the simp-
lest method Of holding a referendum
vote thereon The fairest basis for
such statement as all will agree, is
thS formal Recommendation of the
Wilson administration to Congress.
1t has been attacked by the leading
pacifists of all parties as committing
the country to radical departure in
the matter of national armament.
And yet it is far short of the advoc-
ated by the extreme type of militia
rists (llke Roosevelt and others) who
would have this country adopt un-
iversial compulsory military service.
Taking, then. the Wilson program as
the affirmative basis of the proposed
referendum, let us reduce the issue
to the following definite proposition
REFERRED TO THE VOTERS BY
CONGRESS
Do you favor the general plan o1
increasing the nations military anC
navel establishment. as proposed il
the Dec. 7, 1915, address of the Pres
ldent to Congress, namely: An in
crease in the regular standing arm!
from 1O8, ,0O8 (all services) to 141 "a:
and the creation of a volunteer en-
listed citizen army of 100000 mel
required to undergo discipline an,
drill not over two months a year TO
a Swear period; slso, for the nav,
r 5-year program of construction L
t provide ten battleships, six battle
: cruisers, ten scout cruisers, flfteel
+ fleet submarines. eighty-five coas
d submarines, four gunboats, on
v hospital shis. two ammunition ships
t two fuel Oil ships. ard one repai
d ship; and to enlist enough more me
IS and educate more officers to ma
It these ships. The total increase o
n said national armament estimate
y, to cost, in five years, $500, OF Q, ,O0C
YES
No
# This proposition, which by a join
J. resolution Of Congress would b
al printed on every ballot for the ele'
6. t;nn Of ren.esent at:vss ara nator