TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-08-02
Would EnthronG Democracy.
War Making Powers Should be Confldsd to
The People Alone.

ever have the power 70 iorce
the nation into war;?
Should not the people Of the
United States then, in perfect
good faith, ask the German peo-
Die to do the same thing? This
would not be an affront either
to the German people or to their
Emperor, because, If the people
are solidly behind the Kaiser,
as they are said to be, they
would undoubtedly approve 4
declaration of war, if he asked
it in future.
France and Russia would iin-
doubtedly follow such an ex.
ample set by the United States.
England, which has made more
wars Of aggression than all
other important nations COM
bined, would be compelled to fol-
low. The autocracies Of Ger
many and Austria would then
be left without a leg to stando II.
Under such a rule, Austria
would never have voted to 60
to war because of the assassina.
ton of a Grand Duke.
Such a rule would remove all
the objections which organized
labor has long nursed toward
the National Guard and the en-
largement Of West Point and
Annapolis to give the nation an
adequate corps Of trained Of
fcers.
It would forever stifle the
cryF of the pacifsts that every
appropriation for batt1eships OF
for adequate coast defenses is
backed only by the makers OF
armor plate and war munitions.
1t would consolidate the Mid
die West in favor Of adequate
national defenses at all times,
because it could no longer be
said that wars are made by
Iplutocracy for its own profit Of
aggrandizement and not for the
establishment Of human rights.
Would not the idea appeal to
all those who believe in demo-
cracy and in just wars, as well
as to all those who hate all
ware7
1t is not without significance
that the Non-Partisan League,
which captured the North
Dakota State Government last
year, filled a vacant seat in Con-
gress last week by electing John
M. Baer against both the Repu-
blican and Democratic parties,
on a platform which said ii
part:
I'VE stand for our country,
right or wrong, as against ali
foreign governments. But we
hold that when we believe our
country wrong, we should en-
deayor to set her right.
We demand that our Gov
eminent make immediate public
declaration OF the terms on
which it will make peace, With
out annexations of territory. in
IDENTITIES, contributions or inter-
ference with the right of any
nation to live and manage its
own internal affairs.
We demand that the standard
OF living be maintained. We de-
mand that gambling in the ne
cessita&s OF life be made a felony
and that the Government reg
ulate food prices for producer
and consumer.
we declare that corporations
like the Steel Trust and the
DUPONT Powder Company should
not be allowed to retain the mil
=. lions they are making out of
war at a time when people are
forced to purchase Government
bonds to help finance the war.
Above the horrible slaughter
of this war loom the ugly in-
citings OF an economic system
based upon exploitation. It is
largely a convulsive effort on
the part of adroit rulers of war;
ring nations for control of the
worlds markets. Rival groups
of monopolists are playing a
deadly game of commercial
supremacy. A lasting peace is
possible only upon a new basis
of human thought and relations,
with government in fact of the
people, by the people, for the
people"
This platform is important,
not because it is all true, but
because there is enough truth
in it to convince fifteen thous-
and sturdy American farmers
that they ought to defeat any
candidate, Republican or Demo
cratic, who stood in opposition
to it. And the Mayor of Boz
ston, who seems to command
the support OF a majority Of his
fellow-citizens of that highly
intelligent city, is out for re-
election and is expressing exact
ly the same sentiments.
Whether they are right or
wrong. it IS now plain that INA