The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1919-09-25

Of the National American Woman
Suffrage Association; Cyrus H. X.
Curtis, the Philadelphia publisher;
President Heber ]. Grant Of the Nor
on 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 rela-
tions has reported the treaty, the lines
are sharply drawn between the imme-
date ratification Of the treaty Of
peace with Germany, and its amend
ment with a reassembling of the con-
ference and a reopening Of negotia-
tions that would bring great delay and
prolonged uncertainty In settling the
great issues Of the peace. No parti-
san plea can be made. Party lines
are already broken.
Standing at distance from the con-
flict in the senate chamber, we plead
for immediate ratification without de-
lay. Our land requires it. A state
of nervous strain, tension and unrest
exists manifesting itself in disturban-
ces, which in some cases have no self
evident 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-
lieve and solemnly 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 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 marekt
basket.
We beseech the senate to give the
land peace and certainty by ratifica-
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 clarifi-
cations in the meaning Of the treaty,
not inconsistent with its terms, will
not require the reponeing Of the nego-
tiatons 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 in the Senate Commit
tee on Foreign Relations, would re-
quire negotiation and . reopening 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 engendered would aid
the plots for violent revolution in this
! and other lands. The issues here and
elsewhere between capital and labor,
the conspiracy Of Spectator and prof.
iteer. would all grow and become more
periious.
This cannot be. The American poo
pie cannot, after victorious war, per-,
NIT its government to petition Ger
many, which has accepted the treaty,
for its consent to changes in the trea-
ty. Yet If 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 TO 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. Il
could raise every question open before
hostilities in regard to submarins war
fare and the treatment of its nation
ais in this country. All the provis-
Ions for our trade in Germany raised
b. the economic causes Of the treaty.
many of them vital to our industries
and our farms, as in dye patents, dye
supplies and fertilizers, the working,
Of the Reparation Commission, which
superintends the trade Of all with Ger
many, could all be brought up by Ber-
lin for readjustment by our negotia-
tors, acting for the United States
alone and no longer associated with
other victorious powers or supported