The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-01-20
Iyational Referendum
lAEiIiiIitaryP Preparedness
he Proposal that Congress at the Present Ses
sion Shall Authorize Test Vcte on This
Issue at The Polls Next November

United to be wide division of the |
people y hen there has been not ever
a pary resolution on the subject? |
Would not that be palpable pre-
Judging of the issue? Would it no,
be a deplorab,e and an immoral
abuse Of the principal Of representa-
tive government?
Every fair minded American cit
Zen, whether he is for preparedness
r againrt it, viii! agree that an,
sucs. action by this Congress wouic
an utterly unfair proceeding anc
hat it.weu1d throw discredit on onr
political institutions; as at present
pnt into operation. proving them t.
be unable to meet the existing situa-
tion fairly and squareiy.
WHAT SHOULD CoNGREsT DO
What. chen, can Congress do prop
ely at THIS session? 1t can DO one
ching that will be entirely fair to
both the friends and the foes of pre-
paredness and which will at the same
time save our representative system
of government from a ; isastrous
failure. That one thing is to pass
joiat resolution authorizing and ar
~arglng eor tie SUBMISSION Of ths
main question ;st issue 20 the voters
At the general election of November
next. Let the questihn be fairly
stated SO that voters can answer it,
yes OF no, in the usual way-in the
way that all the states, but one, have
Always adopted constitutional amend
:ueuts and in which Is states have
now provided for enabling the voters
to control. Legislation. when they 80
desire.
A national referendum on pre-
paredncss! Yes, that is the step
which the present Congress should
| take to meet fairly the present ex-
! traordinary situation. Let the ad-
vocates and opponents of prepared
ness go ahead with their arguments
in every way they see fit, between
now and next election day-through
newspapers and magazines. pamph-
lets and posters, public meetings and
the Individual canvass. Let all the
light possible be given to the people
Let an official statement Of the pro.
position and a summary of the argu'
ments on both sides be printed and
distributed to every voter in the lane
at least three months before the cleo
ton.
LET THE MAJORITY RULE
Then, when the votes for ant
against this proposition have beer
! counted, let the majority opinio,
its due and proper expression through
legislation. The will Of the peopl,
having been registered, let their will
be done. If a majority is found t
: favor the preparedness program O
the President, then let that program
, pe carried out: but if a majorit.
votes against it, we suggest that tn
next Congress giveits attention to
constructive foreign police lookin
toward the main tainance of worl
: peace through international cooper
4 alton.
To arm or not to arm-that is no,
the question confronting the Amer
i lean people. They must pay the er
ormous cost and take the conse
4 quences if the arming plan is adop
: ed. Why should not they have th
opportunity to say whether the
Il want that done or not? They pres
ent Congress has no right to mat
D such a decision for them before tt
public mind Gao possibly be made l
or at east without having any meal
o Of knowing what that mind IS.
e NO DANGER OF ATTACK
!e Even the most blatant shouter +,
1t miiiitaristic increase does not asse
le that the United States is in any Ga
lc yer of attack now or in the ne'
e future. Should the world war er
e. tomorrow land all the experts no
x say it will last many months), VIII
n one Of the belligerent nations won
he nave any motive for an attack on tE
er great and resourceful nation? B
o. il there were a motive, what natl'
n would be physically or financial
n able at the end of this war to unde
take so great and costly task as
IN transport All army Of conquest ov
u the sea with the slightest promise
a. success? Hence, there need be no U
n due haste in the matter Of natior