The Washington times., 1919-11-29
An Issue Big Enough to Go to the
American People Next Year
NOVEMBER %, 1919.

Editor of The Times:
The Hearst papers for many years advocated that
he question of declaring and the matter of of
SHOULD always referred referendum of the
American people.
It encouraging to hear Senator Gore of Oklahoma
lately advocate the right of the people through referendum
vote to determine the matter of making war.
1t is equally encouraging certain other Senators
advocating referendum vote the late peace treaty and
the League Of Nations covenant which it contained
1t is possible of course that of these Senators
would not have advocated referendum vote of the people
the treaty had not been already practically killed by the
Senate
Nevertheless all this discussion tends to bring to the
fore the essential ghness of the people passing upon
matters 50 vitality important to themselves and
peace.
In view of the fact however that special referendum
election has been provided for by enactment in order to
pass on this League Of Nations it would wise to have
the matter submitted to the people the next Presidential
election, which is not far away and make that the
main issue between the Democrats and the Republicans
That will practically provide referendum the
question The Democrats for the League in the main
and the Republicans are against it in the main.
It would be understood that if the Democrats were
elected the League would be put through Mr. Wilson
brought it fresh from the English pens and would
be understood that if the Republicans elected the
League would be rejected and that this country would
abide by the injunction Of the Fathers to keep out of
entanghng European alliances.
Now, we have doubt that the Republicans would be
very glad to fight the next election exactly this issue
and Mr. Wilson believes what he saytthat eighty per
cent OF the American people for his English League
ne should be glad to make this the issue of the ee
ton and the return of the Democracy power
But inclined to think that Mr.. Wilson does not
believe what he in regard to eighty per cent of the
American people being for the League any majority of
the American people being for the League
We are inclined to think that Mr. Wilson knows from
he temper Of his audiences that the majority Of the
american people against the League and that the Demo
cratic party would be overwhelmingly defeated that
issue.
In fact, be came back to Washington determined to
drive the League through the Senate if he could but
realizing full well that he could drive it through the
electorate of the United States.
Therefore, it is the Democratic party which has op
posed and will oppose referring the question of the
OF the League to referendum vote of the peoepe or to
defng the issue to the next Presidential election in order
to have it decided then by popular vote
The party which is supposed stand for the will of
the people is in the anomalous position of refusing abide
by the will of the people to allow the will of the people
to be expressed.
There doubt of the importance of this League of
Nations issue and the patriotic necessity of submitting it
to popular vote It is undoubtedly the important
issue that has been submitted the American people
The question is whether the policy which the United
States has adhered during the whole period of its exist
ence as an independent nation shall be completely
whether the policy which the creators of the Republic
themselves pursued and then left their to per
aist n-whether the policy which Washington and all the
greatest and wises of statesmen prophesied would
bring the utmost benefit the United States and which in
years OF experience has brought the utmost benefit to
the United sateswheher that policy of nonntererence
In European affairs, Of abstention from entangng alli
with Europe shall be abandoned for no reason Of
advantage to this country, but simply order that one
American statesman may exercise his pedagogic propen
y to interfere in the affairs of foreign nations with the
result Of creating innumerabe disputes and immense dis
satisfaction for all of which the United States will be held
responsible through and years of resentment and
hostility
Is that not question big enough to be submitted to
the people in general election and to result in the election
of President who will fulfill the wishes of the people as