The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-02-19

will, within few months, give pulsing life to tn
international constitution, or will bury it.
1 Whatever decision is arrived at must com
rather quickly, even though the matter lies wait
ing upon the peace table. The announcement
from Paris that the peace conference hopes to Ell
its deliberations in June July leaves little tim
for the measuring Of popular opinion the worl,
OYER.
Wilson will be home as February GIBBS away
He viii tel congress, and through congress Ia,
people, what he thinks Of the league of nations
constitution, and will pat forward his weighties
arguments for The coun1ry's okey.''
+ And then be viii gU back, possibly after max
ing other Speeches in other cities Of the land 81
as 70 give his views the most widespread circula
ton. lie viii 20 back il is announced 10 the peace
table, and then they'll vote OF the constitution
rae most important step 1ne society Of nations oi
the world has eTar taken In Il time II is very
probable that Ihe American delegation vii porE
for>cae constitution. Nna- -ne majority n psact
delegates viii 60 is p-oolsr.g-le. Tnsg nagy Vp-s
for the constitution Il lG-ealy ras-s WITH Great
Britain ana France -An1 having pu- I1-p fsi1g
the Leagae Of Nations fspposlrg 1u- Inc moment
that il IS settled II -e, Esy) <o- peace sE1, II
Guiding The league ot 2alons CONSTITUTION, passes
On 10 the ssrerzl governments so- ratification.
II viii CONE 70 LIE Inz-a5 S1s1es- And the
senate viii do me Torlag. Pop1arr i is supposed
that the senate VII rafec- -ae majority wishes Of
the American people T'ns- is so-in theory. In
actual feet, soos- Of our senator's vote as they
think the people ought 10 think
TneAmerican people viii have very little TO
say about this League Of Nations, until possibly
in the 1920 presidential and congressional cleo
tons. Until then they can make quite q little
noise and do more Or less talking, mainly among
themselves An overwhelming clamor might
compel the senate 10 vote according to the wave
Of the cutlery, but it you'd have TO be oyerwhelnl-
ing indeed TO penetrate the doors Of the senate
chamber.
The American constitution provides no avenue
Of direct appeal to the people. Congress has al
ways stcered clear Of legislation tending toward
putting the people in closer action upon the ma
toms problems.
If there eyer was a time when the people should
V0tc-With their own ballots, and not through
their senatorial representatives that time Is now.
And the qleation is: 49, ~
Shall the delegates of the United States sign
the League OF Nations constitution"
OF course, there is no chance TO get such ma
tional referendum. We haven't the necessary ma
chinery, nor the necessary constitutional permits
sion. Our hands are bound. We can see and hear
and Jet the senate, chosen without any reference
to ths rnonoentous question:, do tfe voting iD"H"
The obvious VERDICT is: ..ardy u,y.,,..,
Pave the WAY for national refercndums on all
national or International problems approaching in
importance the League of Nations.
States have found rcfcrcndums workable and
useful, 80 why not the nation?
Then, at last congress would know what the
people wanted.
In the meantime, and upon the League of Ma
tons problem, the best 10000, 900 Americans can
90 is to make considerable noise in support Of the
side we happen to favor and trust to our SO scna-
tors 10 tell upon which side the majority of people
stand -t# +.