The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-08
TAKING THE REFERENDUM
SERIOUSLY.
(The New Republic,N

(The New Repubic.N
good many people who take war the sum
of all yillainies have seized upon the idea OF a
referendum to prevent Their object, interna-
tional or otherwise is to divert attention from the
threats of Germany to the beralism of those who
wish to resist the threats 1T is hoped that those
| who oppose referendum about foreign re-
lations will be jockeyed into the position of jngoes
trying to stampede unwilling people. into war.
The fact is. however, that sane man would ever
propose the referendum as normal method OF
controlling foreign policy 1t is proposed at this
moment only emergency measure.
1t is estimated that referendum would take at
the very least twenty-five days. Is there any
in this country who could frame question now
that would mean something about the end of
March? Does any know what will be the situ-
alton at the end of March? Suppose decide now
that in three and half weeks we shall vote on
whether (a) American ships shall sail in the
barred and OBJ American citizens shall sail on
any ship in the barred What shall we do in
the meantime? Shall we stay home and grant Ger
many practically month of absolute victory, or
shall we sail and be attacked without resisting?
Suppose the referendum yes-Amercans
should sail under government protection-are
to consider that the vote approves American pro-
lection to ships carrying conditional contraband
only absolute contraband well? If the vote is
not, what is government to do if Germany then
declares the whole Atlantic barred zone?
Shall we wait another twenty-five days and vote
again?
The referendum is not advisory in any honest
of the word, because the decision of the gov
eminent must be composed of intricate series Of
problems which cannot be isolated On most Of the
points the answer is not yes or no. but a course OF
action with many qualifications of detail. gov
eminent dependent referendum for advice about
every crucial point could survive only in world
where magic kept everything frozen tight while
the referendum being taken. In world Of
swift action, of surprises, of intrigue. there can
be neither safety nor for administration
which had power to act.
If the referendum taken seriously, let
imagine the state of the country while it was being
held. We should have furious campaign with the
president his cabinet Mr.. Roosevelt and the lead
ing Republicans stamping the country against Mr..
Bryan and Mr.. Mann, the Socialist. Party ana Mr..
Max Eastman. Does any suppose it would be
pleasant spectacle that it would leave behind
it anything but profound bitterness and disorgani-
cation? 1t would be exhibition of utter folly,
and at the end the president would not be one whit
the wiser to how he ought to act the thou
sand and questions he has to decide Vast
sums of money would be poured out on both sides
and the forces of sanity would soon be submerged
The proectionist newspaper advertising campaign
in the last ten days of recent campaign would
be mild compared to what We should
In the course of the campaign INSCRIPTIONS
propaganda would be conducted against both Ger
many and England and The hyphenate question
raised in all its violence. We should hear about
the menace of Japan: wild words would be uttered
about Mexico. We should be saying the things
which would deeply embitter not only Germany
but the nations whose friendship need to cul-
tivatc. The infectious phrases would be plastered
around the world poisoning relationships
where. Innocent it looks at first sight the refer
endum would be disaster far greater than the
kind of war in which may possibly be engaged.
The proposal is product of just that irrespon-
sibiity of mind, that poverty of Imagination, that
failure of realistic thinking which has cast such
odium the word pacifism If men who love
peace and want it behave this way. how lib
| erals ever to call themselves pacfists? 1t is a
tragic suggestion, for it exhibits in the rawest form
a total bankruptcy of ideas. Those who would wish
to call themselves pacifsts and work for a peace
through craftsmanship merely discredited and
thrown back by empty proposal in grave a
crisis