Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-03-31
I'VE, THE people,
MUST CONTINUE TO
GOVERN AMERICA
Message on Wills O.
lie que from a
Fighting Son of Col.
Roosevelt
No Cats Paw For Europe-This
Country Must Protect Its Own In
terests As Does Old World

! capt. AfcnlOdlQ 3. 1NOOSSNelt, one
! of the three fighting sons of Col.
Roosevelt, and who will always carry
| the marks of his wounds received in
| France. writes public communica-
| ton under date of March II, 1919.
| calling upon the American people to
! stand up for representative govern
| ment in this country and to insist
| that their officials protect American
| interests as effectively az the diplo-
mats of Europe are looking after the
interests Of their respective coun-
tiles. Capt. Roosevelt's letter reads:
Many of us who were in France
! or were lying wounded in the hosri-
! tails in the United States are now
wearing civilian clothes and nave the
right of free speech. We have re-
turned TO a life that seems new and
Grange. and We are myst fled by the
events following in the wake of the
\ way.
we find President demanding
and receiving the absolute obedience
required in time Of war only in the
front line: but unlike the officers in
the front line, he will listen to no
suggestion from the rank and file.
We are amazed at his having the in-
! science to career over to Europe to
tell our friends and foes tat a large
majority OF the American people
are united behind him and his plan
for his League Of Nations. The ma
| jority Of the American people ara
not behind him. Most Of us-and I
| believe I am fair sample of the av-
erage -American-have no idea what
| the language of Mr.. Wilson's cove
! nant meane
| We want time to talk the matter
1 over. and see what We can do for
| other nation without running or
| own nation. 1t will do but little so,'d
| if, by helping the CZecho Slovaks or
the Armenians to keep their freedom.
we subject our country and the
Western Hemisphere to the man.
dates Of alien Powers.
Yet while we want TO talk over
the league. to clarity our ideas ana
to have time to choose and select
what we want to do in regard TO our
future international relations, at the
same time we want an immediate
peace. which will restore the world
to normal conditions, and repder the
/ clustering. bullying, cringing Ger
man entirely impotent.
THE solution seems 40 self-eVident
that hesitate to mention it. Let us
make peace Immediately. and after
having made our peace let us con-
vene a council of representative men
Of the allied nations for the purpose
] of inc To-, .,f hi
will strive to limit wars in the fu-
ture.
Before We sign or agree to any
league of nations we must Solemnly
VOW to ourselves to live up to the
letter and the spirit of any interna-
| tional agreement We make. We must
be very careful to make TO agree
ment which we cannot live up 70. We
I must never share with Germany the
point If view that international
agreements are scraps of paper.
! Let the Senate take heed, for the
Republic is in danger. Let Shc people
! Of the United states show the inter-
| nationalist politicians Of the New
! World and the Statesmen of the Old.
| who are patrio1ically looking after
| the interests Of their own people.
that the people Of the United States
are truly in the saddle" and will al
! low no ono without courage to rep
/ resent them. We. the people. must
demand the Senate use the powers
! given to II by The Constitution. No
! conglomeration of foreign states
men or Of few self-appointed Amer
! lean delegates should he able to
wrest from the hands Of the people
their power Ours has always been
representative government. repre-
sentative of the will of the pcopa. il
must always remain representative.
Stand on your feet, Senators. Re
| fuse to be tricked into approving am
| league Of nations at the present time
merely TO hasten peace. If peace
| treaty and league are in two parts.
! approve only the treaty. Refuse any
! peace treaty interviewer with lie
League Of Nations. We need peace,
but we need honesty and common
'>nse more than peace. All of us be
| lieve in and will support any proo-
| osition likely to limit wars in the
future. But we must have time TO
talk things over before we decide on
any new policy so vitality affecting
our whole national and international
life. We want to discuss the prop
osition after We have made peace.
"There are many of us who feel
that those at the Peace Conference
are not truly representative Of pub
lie opinion. Perhaps the 66th Congress
will be more so. The Sixty sixth Con-
sress needs both courage ard ronNic-
ton to oppose the bullying of Mr..
Wilson. If this Congress fails we
must find in 1920 men who are fit to
lead US.
ARCHIBALD 3. ROOSEVELT.
New York. March 81