Gilpin observer., 1919-09-18
Leaders in Forty States, Regard
less Of Party, Sign Ringing
Appeal.
TREATY WITHOUT AMENDMENT
Say Every Day Of Delay Puts World
In Imminent Peril Of New
War-Point to National
Unrest.

puoHcais anu beHlocratS representing
forty different states and every prom
inent activity, have Joined in non
partisan effort to bring about the rati-
fication of the Peace Treaty without
amendment 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
to every member of the Senate.
The signers, almost without excep-
tion, are men and women of national
reputation. They include such promi-
nent citizens as ex-President Taft,
George w. Wickersham, Attorney Gem
eral in the last Republican adminstra-
tion; A. Lawrence Lowell, president of
Harvard; Charles c. Moore of San
Francisco president of the Panama
Exposition Judge George Gray of Will
mington, Del. President Samuel Com
pers of the American 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 American Woman Suffrage
Association; Cyrus III. X. Curtis, tha
Philadelphia publisher; President He
Der ]. Grant of the Mormon Church,
and Spargo, 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 rcla-
tions has reported the treaty, the lines
are sharply drawn between the imme-
diate ratification of the treaty of peace
with Germany, and its amendment with
reassembling of the conference and
a reopening of negotiations that
would bring great delay and prolonged
uncertainty in settling the great issues
of the peace. No partisan plea can be
made. Party lines are already broken.
Standing at distance from the
conflict in the Senate chamber, we
plead for immediate ratification with
out delay. Our land requires it. A
rest exists manifesting itself in dis
turbances which in some cases have
no self evident connection with the
war, but which are, in fact, its after
math. The world is put in imminent
peril of new wars by the lapse of each
day. Discussions between us and our
former allies are being sown. We
that the states and cities in which we
dwell desire immediate peace.
The waging of war steadied and unit
ed the American people Peace will
bring prosperity, and prosperity CON
tent. Delay in the Senate postponing
ratification in this uncertain period of
neither peace nor war has resulted in
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 bcseech the Senate to give the
land peace and certainly by ratifica-
Iion which will not keep us longer in
The shadows of possible wars, but give
Reservations In the nature of clarifi-
cations in the meaning of the treaty,
not inconsistent Will It's terms. will not
require the rcopening Of the negotia-
tions with Germany and with our as
sociutes In The war, which we all and
each united 10 win.
But there is no possibility of doubt
thnt amendment OF the treaty, as is
now proposed by the Senate Commit
tee on Foreign Relations, would re-
quirc negotiation and reopenng of
all the questions decided at Paris.
Months of delay would follow. The
perils of the present would become the
deadly dangers of the near future. All
the doubt engondered would aid the
plots for violent revolution in this and
other lands The issues here and else
where between capital and labor, the
conspiracy Of speculator and profitcer,
would oil grow and become more peril
Gus
This cannot be. The American peo-
Ole cannot, after victorious war,
permit IT'S government to petition Ger
many, which has accepted the treaty,
for its consent to changes In the trea-
ty. Yet II the United States should
amend the treaty for its own purpose
and policy, Germany would have full
right to ask for concessions Ger
many has agreed 10 make no claim In
regard TO enemy property seized In
this country to an amount OF seven
hundred million dollars. Our recent
foe could ask for reopening of this
issue and of the Lusitania claims. II
could raise every question open be.
fore hostilities In regard to submarine
warfare and the treatment OF Its ma
tionals In this country. All the pro-
visions for our trade In Germany
xaised by the economic clauses Of the