The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-09-18
URGE SENATE10
HASTEN PEACE
Leaders in Forty States Regard.
less Of Party, Sign Ring
ing Appeal.
REATywiTH0uTA MENDMENT
Gay Every Day Of Delay Puts
World in Imminent Peril of
New War...Point to
National Unrest.

New York.-(SpeciaD- Two hundred
and fifty leading Americans, Republic
cans and Democrats representing forty
different states and every prominent
activity have joined in bipartisan
effort to bring about the ratification
Of the peace treaty without amend
nent and without delay" Their names
are attached to an address to the
United States senate, which was made
public today, through the League to
Enforce Peace, after it had been sent
b every member of the senate.
The signers almost without exception
are men and women Of national reputa-
lion. They include such prominent citi-
sens as ex-President Taft, George w.
Wickersham, attorney general in the
last Republican administration; Law
renee Lowell, president of Harvard ;
Charles c. Moore Of San Francisco,
president Of Panama exposition; Judge
George Gray of Wilmington, Del. (;
President Samuel Gompers Of the Am
erican Federation of Labor; Harry A.
Wheeler of Chicago, retiring president
Of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States; Mrs. Carrie Chapman
Gait, president Of the National Am
erican Woman Suffrage association /:
Cyrus Il. X. Curtis, the Philadelphia
publisher; President Heber J. Grant,
Of the Mormon church; and John
epargo, leader of the Socialists who
supported the war.
The signers declare that every day
Of delay in ratifying the treaty puts
the world in Imminent peril of new
war
Their statement follows:
In the senate at Washington, now
that the committee on foreign rela.
are sharply drawn between the imme-
date ratification Of the treaty Of peace
with Germany, and it's amendment with
q reassembling Of the conference and
q reopening of negotiations that would
bring great delay and prolonged uncer-
tainty in settling the great issues Of
the peace. No partisan plea can be
made. Party lines are already broken.
Standing at distance from the con
Aict in the senate chamber we plead
for immediate ratification without de-
lay. Our land requires it. A state of
nervous strain, tension and unrest ey-
lists, manifcsting itself in disturbances
which in some cases have no self-evi
dent connection with the war, but
which are in fact its aftermath The
world Is put in imminent peril Of new
wars by the lapse Of each day. Dis
sensions between us and our former
allies are being sown. We firmly be-
l4eve and solemnFy declare that the
states and cities in which we dwell de-
sire immediate peace
The waging of war steadied and
united the American people Peace
Will bring prosperity, and prosperity
content. Delay in the senate post
poning ratification in this uncertain
period Of neither peace nor war has
resulted ia indecision and doubt, bred
strife and quickened the cupidity of
those who sell the daily necessities Of
life and the fears Of those whose daily
wage no longer fills the daily market
basket
We beseech the senate to give the
land peace and certainty by ratifca-
ton which will not keep us longer in
the shadows Of possible wars, but give
the whole world the light of peace.
Reservations in the nature of clarifica-
lions in the meaning Of the treaty not
inconsistent with its terms will not
require the reopening Of the negotia-
tons with Germany and with our
associates in the war, which we all
and each united to win.
But there is no possibility Of doubt
that amendment Of the treaty, as Is
now proposed by the senate committee
on foreign relations would require
negotiation and a reopening Of all the
questions decided at Paris. Months of
delay would follow. The perils Of the
present would become the deadly dan
gers OF the near future. All the doubt
engendered would aid the plots for
violent revolution in this and other
lands. The issues here and elsewhere
between capital and labor, the con-
spiracy of specula tor and profiteer,
would all grow and become more
perilous.
This cannot be- The American peo-
pie cannot, after victorious war,
permit It's government to petition Ger
many, which has accepted the treaty,
for Its consent to changes In the
treaty. Yet, II the United States should
amend the treaty for its own purpose
and policy, Germany would have full
right to ask for concessions. Germany
has agreed to make no claim in regard
. enemy property seized In this coun.
t1y to an amount Of seven hundred
million dollars. Our recent foe could
ask for reopening Of this issue and
Ct the Lusitania claims. 1t could
raise every question open before hos
tilities In regard to submarine war
fare and the treatment Of its nationals
IN this country. All the provisions FOL
our trade in Germany raised by thu
]. economic clauses Of the treaty, many
r. them vital to our industries and o.