The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-10-23

and cities IN which we dwell desire
immediate peace.
The waging of war steadied and
united the American people. Peace
will bring prosperity, and prosperity
content. Delay in the Senate postpon-
ing ratification in this uncertain per-
iod of neither peace nor war has re-
suited 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 beseech the Senate to give the
land peace and certainty by an imme-
date ratification which will not keep
us longer in the shadows of posi-
BILE wars, but give the whole world the
light of peace. Doubt may exist as to
whether reservations in the nature OF
Qualifications in the meaning of the
treaty not consistent with it's terms
will or will not require the reopening
of the negotiations with our associates
in the war, which we all and each
united to win.
But there is no possibility of doubt
that the amendment of the treaty, as
is now publicly and openly proposed
in the Senate committee on foreign
relations, would require negotiation,
reopening all the questions decided at
Paris Months of delay would follow.
The perils of the present would be-
come the deadly dangers of the near
future. All the doubt, the plots for
violent revolution in this and other,
lands, the issues here and elsewhere
between capital and labor, the conspir-
acy of speculator and profteer, would
all grow and become more perilous.
This cannot be. The American peo-
pie cannot, after a victorious war,
permit it's government to petition Ger
many, which has accepted the treaty,
for it's consent to changes in it. Yet,
if the United States should amend the
treaty for it's own purpose and policy,
Germany would have full right to ask
for concessions. Germany has agreed
to make no claim in regard to enemy
property seized in this country to an
amount of $700,000,000. Our recent
foe could ask for reopening of this
issue and of the Lusitania claims. It
could raise every question open be-
fore hostilities in regard to submar-
inc warfare, and the treatment of it's
nationals in this country. All the
provisions for our trade in Germany
raised by the economic clauses 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 COM
mission, which superintends the
trade of all with Germany so as to
meet the debts of Germany to ALI
each clause reluctantly granted by
Germany, could all be brought up by
Berlin for readjustment by our ne
gotiators acting for the United
States alone and no longer associated |
with other victorious powers nor sup
ported by victorious American army
On the German border.
Peace itself, the peace of the
world, is halted until ratification
cuIHcS. Anu any dHeuuHeHL posi-
pones peace to negotiations. Ger
many and England alone of the prin-
cipal powers have ratified. The 9TH
er principals necessarily await our
action, influential and powerful as
we are today in the worlds affairs.
The ravages of war on more than
score of fighting fronts are contin-
ued by any needless delay. Let the