Arizona republican., 1917-04-21
REPUBLIC IN
 ENGLAND |S
 WELLS PLAN
[Republican A. p. Leased wireJ


 LONDON, April 21.-The Times to- day prints conspicGously under the heading: "A Republican Society for Great Britain" letter from H. G. Wells, the novelist. who is equally prominent as a socialist propagandist MT. Wells suggests that the time is now ripe and itwould be a thing agree able to our friends and allies, the re- publican democracies of France, Rus sia, the United States and Portugal, to give some clear expression to the great volume of republican feeling that al- ways has existed in the British com munity."
 Mr Wells admits that the general republican feeling las hitherto been satisfied with the idea that Great Bri- tain is "a crowned republic" and doubts whether even in Ireland there is any considerable section of the people who would be disposed to go beyond the inn plications of that phrase The writer contends, however, that "it will be an excess of civility to the less acceptable pretenSions of royalty and grave neg ligence of our duty to liberal aspira- tionS throughout the world if the think ing ones of the British community does not take ambiguous steps to make clear to the republicans of Europe, Asia or 1 America that these anclent trappingS of the throne and sceptre are at most mere historical inheritances and that our spirit is warmly and entirely against the dynastic system that so long has divided. embittered and vast ed the spirit of mankind"
 The writer does not contend directly for the establishment of republic, but looking to the future, he argues in favor of encouraging the adoption of republican form of government in Po- land, Bulgaria and Greece and says that for the advancement and encour- agement of this the same immediate organization is required in Great Britain
 !. ITO begin with the letter continues. N'it might take the form of a series of loosely affiliated republican societies centering in our chief towns whicl: would enroll members and organize meetings of sympathy with our fellow republicans abroad and form basis for more definitely purposeful acitivi- ties. Such activities need not conflict in any way with ones free loyalty to the occupant of the throne of this Crowned republic"
 The Times devotes it's chief editorial to the Wells letter for the purpose of showing the absurdity of republican manifestations in this country" The letter, it says, shows that clever man can sometimes write very fool ishly."
 The Times contends that republican feeling ntver was general in Great Britain not excepting the time when Great Britain was nominally a republic, and it is quite confident that no great volume of republican feeling exists to- day. The general feeling, it declares. is democratic but not republican, and is satisfied perfectly with the existing constitution.
 The Times argues lengthily that the acme of freedom is enjoyed in Great Britain owing to the supreme power of the people exercised through the house of commons and that the British mon- archy has nothing in common with the autocratic monarchies on the continent.
 We know and feel that the crown is the indispensable keystone of the British empire" says the Times, which seeks by examples to show that this golden link is the surest bulwarlI and pledge of democracy over great part of the globe