The diamond drill., 1919-05-10
The Worlds Next Step
No. q
What IL Our Duty I'm Connection with
the League Of Nntionsy
by CLARENCE l. SPEED

What Is my duty as an individual
In connection with the league OF ma
tionsT" you may ask. "What have l
got TO do with this big world question?
VIII any action on my part have any
influence on the forces that are now
settling the destinles OF the world"
Every citizen Of the United States
has duty 10 perform now. In connec-
ton with the league OF nations, Just
as urgent as he had when we were at
war; You did not hesitate 10 do your
part then just because you were only
one OF hundred million and on rhe
theory that any little saving or invest
ing or working that you could do
would have little effect toward de
feating Germany.
Every individual citizen is represent
cd In Washington by a senator. You
may not know him; may never have
seen him. Nevertheless he has some
respect for your opinions; he wishes
10 win your vote once more. II he did
not respect the opinions OF his con-
stituents he would be queer person.
for he is sent TO Washington 70 carry
out the wishes OF the majority OF the
voters.
Now the United states senate Is the
body which has the power 10 ratlfy or
reject treaties. The British premier
has promised 10 submit the peace
treaty To parliament for its approval.
too; but he has just had an election
and knows where parliament stands.
When the representatives OF all or
most OF the other nations sign the
treaty OF peace, that is all that is nee
essary. IL then becomes operative.
But America Will not be at peace
with Germany nor will Ii be a mem
ber OF the league OF nations until the
senate has ratified the treaty. II the
senate should refuse To ratify II, we
would then be in the position Of being
at war when all the remainder OF the
world was at peace, and OF being out
side OF league Of nations which en-
braced most OF the other important
countries.
rs II possible" you may ask, that
the senate could fail TO ratify treaty
and thus leave us out In the cold? Are
we ready to stand alone in this fed
Grated world? Can we assume the
role OF China and build wall of ex-
clusiveness around usf"
Looked az In that light ii does not
seem possible; yet when one listens to
the speeches made daily In the senate
il does seem as though many senator's
are far from ready TO vote for the
treaty which contains a provision for
a league of nations. They may believe
that they are backed by the voters. II
Is our duty as voters 10 let them know
whether they are carrying out our
wishes or not.
In this series OF articles there has
been no attempt To- present AN argu-
ment that the constitution OF the
league OF nations as IL stands Is per-
feet document. There very likely is
room for many Improvements. If
there were not. IL would be an excep-
tion TO every other constitution ever
adopted.
Conditions may arise a decade or
century from now OF which we can
have no conception nt this time, any
more than the trainers Of the Ameri.
can Constitution could have foreseen
the developments of today.
But there can he no doubt that the
world as a whole, now dlsapproves OF
war and denies the necessity for war,
and that the league OF nations as now
proposed is sincere effort 10 do away
with the danger OF war.
There is every reason to believe that
lt stands more than a fair chance Of
succeeding. while IL Is so drawn as to
present few If any perlls that we have
not always had with us If II fails to
succeed.
The constitution of the league does
not prevent the United States from
doing anything IL wants 10 do, for the
reason that the United States has no
designs on the property of its neigh
bors II does not Impose any new bur
dens upon us comparable with the war
debt which has just been heaped on us
through no fault or desire Of our own.
The league may call upon the United
States 10 do its part in governing some
of the backward portions OF the globe
until they are ready 10 govern them.
selves. This may entail some expense,
some trouble, possibly some small loss
Of American lives. ns IN the case Of
the Philippines. but nothing In com,
parison 10 the losses in men and money
sustained In our participation In what
was for us only the fag end Of a great
world war.
Every man must do his duty IN hls
own community, II he expects good
government. II he believes In the
league Of nations. II Is his duty now 10
let his representatives in the senate
know II. II he does not, II likewise l.
his duty TO mnke his beliefs known.
The plain people. the world over,
are letting II be known that they are
against international war. Most Of
,na,,, haitayp that tho laapua ~ mn.