The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1917-03-01
NIX. lLlt.Ll4 0lAlLS
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The Ontario Argus.

The Ontario Argus,
As you icl, lt your duty TO publish
and critioisc m romark on releIeu
dun ON war or no war. ! feel jusuGo,
TO ask for an opportunity in yoW
paper. to declare myself more in de-
tail, promising not to touch upon for
oign conditions, which may raise th,
question, pro-German or pro-Britain.
If our representatives could be de-
ended upon to act in accordance with
the wishes of those who elected them.
I would not feel alarmed. However
the voters know better. We had such
convincing examples again in the last
session of the Oregon House. There
is no doubt, that the Oregonians were
much In favor OF the delinquent tax
bill. Yet Il was defeated The people
have been deliberately robbed for
years in paying for advertising de-
linquent taxes. II this is not a shin
ing example of class-legislation, then
I must be blind SO many acts. IN the
course OF time have been passed, fav-.
oring busines, big business We are
pretty we'll used TO the abuses. We
don't call that democracy, and " II
was not for the referendum. initia-
tive and recall, We would not have
any check TO such aggression. and
class-rule Answer the question. who
bears the burden during and after
the war; And who profits by a.?
The people have nothing TO gain In
modern wars. II In the present war,
u great principle was at stake, AFFECT
ing our country, we would know how
to use the referendum In support Of
that principle. But what is this
European murder for? Modern wars
spring from the desire (greed) for
profits. Commercial rivalry was
bound TO force this war between Ger
many and England. And II we are
not greedy for profits there II no
cause for war for u.s. Lot us supply
our own people FIRST, then n there is a
surplus, let those who want u, come
and get Il, rather sacrifice inter
national right. for the time being. F.
than sacrifice the young Americans
and be called upon TO pay huge bills
(To whom?l Besides that, think of
the IN effects upon public morals. .
Aud don't we need the best young
men TO make the American nation
better Degenorates don't 30 to the T.
front They stay home and father 7
the next generation, After the war I
the world will reason, and the /
American people viii be thought OF I
as an example OF common sense. amid .
desperate nations.
In case OF invasion, the referendum
would be impractical. But oondi-
tions at present are entirely different
We have ample time 10 reason and
think before we need 10 act, | like 4
to call your attention 20 the fact that
foreign relations are conducted by
the president and his cabinet officers.
II foreign afairs are ill taken care of,
say In AN aggressive way. congress
may, some day beforced In position
where a declaration of war Is the on
ly way out Don't we need check
there? The fundamental difference
between us in the war question can
be traced to the justice or injustice of
the profit system, since war has be-
come TO be a business.
| claim, abolish the profit system
and you abolish the cause for war,
The balance of power has failed to
prevent war SO will an International
Peace League I hope I explained my
self In way that leaves no doubt as
10 my convictions,
Thanking YOU for the space.
L. TENSEN.