Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-03-30
BRYAN HAS PLAN
TO PREVENT A WAR
APPEALS TO CONGRESS TO FUR
Their NEGOTIATE WITH THE
GERMAN GOVERNMENT.

Miami, Fla, March 29-William J.
Bryan today addressed an appeal to
the senate and house of representa-.
tives urging that an attempt be made
to secure the suspension Of Germany's s
ruthless submarine campaign through
the application of the so-called Bryan
peace plan which provides for an in
vestigation of all disputes by an inter-
national tribunal before resort to war.
Mr.. Bryan asked that congress also
consult the wishes Of the people
through referendum if it concludes
that nothing but war will satisfy the
nations honor. His appeal to congress
follows:
Exercising the citizens right Of Pc
tltlon | appeal to you. The dispute
with Germany has passed beyond the
domain of diplomacy and some advise
settlement by the sword. The metro
politan press, which tried to prevent
the reelection OF the president and fail
ed, undismayed by popular verdict
OF more than one-half Million now
seeks to lash the country into fury
and urge the government to take part
in the European conflict.
ITO you, and to you only. is given
constitutional authority to declare
war-war which In this case may mean
the signing of the death warrant Of
thousands, even millions of your coun-
trymen and the laying of grieyous bur-
dens upon future generations. Before
you take this blood upon your hands,
consider, I pray you, first, that the
wrongs which you would punish, cruel
and unjustifiable as they are, are not
intended primarily against this coun-
try, but are acts Of desperation direct
ed against other nations with which
the offenders are at war. Second, that
our land Is not threatened with inva-
sion, but that we are asked to go three
thousand miles for chance to fight.
Third. that we have not the excuse for
going to war that the European ma
tions had They had no machinery for
peace. We have peace plan offered
by this nation to the world and now
embodies in thirty treaties with three
quarters Of the population Of the globe.
The plan has the endorsement OF the
president, the commentator OF the
senate and the approval of the people
at the polls. It provides for investiga-
tion Of all disputes by an international
tribunal before resort to war.
Fortunately these treaties compel
us to employ the plan with Great Brit
ain, France. Italy and Russia before
going to war with them. Germany for
mally approved the plan. although no
treaty has yet been 94ssludes with
her Shall we repudiste our own plan
the first time we have an opportunity
to employ it, II, as the president re-
Gently declared the American people
do not want war. Is II not worth while
to try the peace plan before bringing
upon the people the horrors Of war?
Until an attempt is made and fails, no
one is able to say that it would be i'm
possible to secure the suspension OF
ruthless submarine warfare during
the Investigation for which the plan
provides Shall we deny to ourselves
the credit Of trying to settle the dis
pute with the treaty plan?
"And, is It not worth while to do our
part in trying to avoid injury? Would
It not be better, as well as cheaper.
for the government to carry on It's own
vessels such Americans as must go to
Europe rather than engage in war to
vindicate the right of citizens to dis
regard all risks and ride upon bellig-
erent ships?
"Is II not worth while to separate
passengers from contraband cargoes
so that the captains of passenger ships
can give their entire attention to the
safety of the passengers? Our nation
is the worlds foremost advocate Of
peace If we go to war 1t should be
for cause which history will justify.
"If you reach the conclusion that
nothing but war will satisfy the ma
tons honor, is It too much to ask that
by a referendum you consult the
wishes Of those who must. In case Of
war. defend the nations honor with
their lives?
LAS one who expects to live up to a
duties, If war comes. plead
with you to use all honorable means
to preserve peace before you take the
of plunging our beloved
land into this unprecedented struggle,
begun without any sufficient cause and
coDducfe cd hy both sfdes in inter dis.