The Washington times., 1919-04-02
CALLS PACT ONLY
WAR SAFEGUARD

Declaring that unless the league or ,
nations becomes a reality, wage /
earners in this country will pay in /
come taxes TO the end of their. days. !
even though the next war may not |
come for twenty-five years, Senator !
Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock of Nebraska, !
speaking before a capacity audience
at the Commercial Club last night, |
said that without such a league WaC
and stupendous military and naval
preparations were inevitable.
He also declared Bolshevism is due.
in part, to the fact that government
has, from time immemorial, sent Its
men out TO periodic slaughter and
spent most of it's revenue for war,
and that when government becomes
an engine for the promotion of the
welfare and peace of the, world the
illiterate classes will have more con-
fidence in, government and authority.
Capacity Audience.
The largest audience in the history
of the club greeted Senator Hitchcock
when he began his address. Many
were unable to secure accommoda-
tions at the dinner which preceded
the speech, and it was necessary to
clear the tables away to allow every
one to hear the talk. Among those
present were Commissioners Brown
low, Kutz and Gardiner. Assistant
Secretary of Labor Louis F. Post and
Herbert Quick, Of the Federal Farm
Loan Board.
''The great nations of the world are
now uniting in a device which will
prevent war and establish interna-
tional justice. This was not possible
Russia, Austria-Hungary and Ger
many, with their dreams of conquest,
are nothing but shattered ruins in
the dust Of time the way is cleared.
Ell the league falls through, then
every man, woman, and child in this
country who earns $1,000 a year or
more will have to pay income taxes
as long as he lives. All profits from
business will be taxed. The incomes
taxes you paid this year will be trivial
compared with what will have to be
paid IL war is not prevented,
Failure Means Certain War.
Without the league, war is inevita-
Bile. There will be such tremendous
military and naval preparations in
this country as will stagger imagina-
ton, for the United States will never
again be caught unprepared. as she
was in this war.
1--WE were only in it six months, but
il cost US 60, 900 lives, to say nothing
Of the thousands of men with arms
or legs of, with eyes out, and women
who will wear black for years to
come. 1t seems to me that the people
Of America will not stand for such q
thing again-that they will insist on
the ratification OF the League OF Ma
| tions.
There is opposition. Some say they
are against the league from principle.
Others say they are for q league, but
not for this one.
'0The league is composed of four
teen nations. All can't have what
they want, so It must be . compromise
| between fourteen nations, just as our
own Constitution was q compromise
between thirteen States. There have
been eighteen amendments made SO
far. Nothing but compromise can
be accepted.
Articles Are Mutual PrO1Hines.
Most Of the tWGnty-six articles are
promises OF the nations to each other.
Some Of the articles constitute the
! machinery by which the several ma
tions agree to keep the covenants of
the league. The nations joining all
promise to submit disputes to the
executive council and allow a cooling
oH period Of nine months before they
20 to war. II Germany had al
lowed three days before invading Bel
gium there would have been no war.
"The backbone Of the league IL the
executive council England has only
one vote on it-not six az many are
/ led to believe. The council Is com
| posed Of nine members, five OF them
! permanent. These are the five great
| nations Of the woFId-the United
| States, Great Britain, France, Italy
| and Japan.
THE nations agree not TO make
war even II the decision of the coun.
| Gil is against It, il the decision is
unanimous. Unanimously is required
I in all decisions to make them bind
/ ing on the nations affected.
Ends Secret TFeaties.
The nations promise not 10 make
! secret treaties and to reduce aIma,
! ments. No promises are made as ia
/ the number Of soldies or military ser.
! vice.
ITO reduce armaments is one oi
| the way to get rid of wars. The
, executive council undertakes to rec
ommend to the various states the sx.