Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-07
Calls Monroe Doctrine Essence
of Article X, About Which
Senate Fight Ragged
Says Copy of Treaty; Procured From Enemy
Hands, Passed Into Record, Violated
consideration of, Decency:''

| clearer or more specific the obliga-
! tons of the United States to the
| league associates"
Treaty FIRST Duty
of New Regime.
| The first duty of the new admin
cation of the treaty. The matter
| should be approached without
| thought of the bitterness of the
past. The public verdict will have
been rendered. and l am confident
| that the friends of world peace as
lit will be promoted by the league
| Will have in numbers the constitu-
tional requisite to favorable sena-
toral action. The captious may
say that our platform reference to
reservations is vague and indefi-
| mite. It's meaning. in brief. is that
the covenant as matter of good
| faith to our associates and as a
/ precaution against any miSunder-
standing in the future. The point
! is. that after the people shall have
spoken. the league will be in the
! hands of its friends in the Senate.
and safe index as to what they
| will do is supplied by what reser-
vations they have proposed in the
past. Some months ago, in con-
| tributed article to the New York
| Times. / expressed my own opinion
|
| reproduce it here:
There can be no doubt but that
some senators have been conscien-
| tious 1 their desire to clarity the
provisions of the treaty. Two
! things apparently have disturbed
sure that the league was not to be
an alliance, and that it's basic pur-
versy. Second. they wanted the
other powers signing the instru-
| ment to understand our constitu-
treaty-making power cannot go.
/ Dealing with these two questions
In order, it has always seemed to
me that the interpretations of the
junction of the league might have
been stated in these words:
In giving it's assent to this treaty.
the Senate has in mind the fact that
the league of nations, which it embodies
was devised for the sole purpose of
maintaining peace and comfy among
the nations of the earth and preventing
the recurrence of such destructive con-
f1lcts as that through which the world
has just passed. The cooperation of
the United States with the league and
It's continuance as a member thereof
will naturally depend upon the adher-
ence of the league to that fundamental
purpose
"Such a declaration would at least
express the view of the United States
and justify the course which our nation
would unquestionably follow if the basic
purpose of the league were at any time
distorted. 1t would also appear to be
simpler matter to provide against any
misunderstanding in the future and at
the same time to meet the objections of
those who believe that we might be in
wiling a controversy over our constitu-
tional rights by making a senatorial
addition in words something like these:
1t will, of course, be understood
that in carrying out the purpose of the
league the government of the United
States must at all times act in strict
harmony with the terms and intent of
the United States Constitution, which
cannot in any way be altered by the
treaty-making power.."
Unquestioned friends of the league
have made other proposals. Our plat
form clearly lays no bar against any
additions that will be helpful, but it
speaks in firm resolution to stand
against anything that disturbs the
vital principle. We hear it said that
interpretations are unnecessary That
may be true, but they will at least
be reassuring to many of our citizens,
who feel that in signing the treaty
there should bf no mental reservations
that are not expressed in plain words,
as matter of good faith to our asso-
ciates. Such interpretations possess
the further virtue of supplying a base
upon which agreement can be reached,
and agreement. without injury to the
coventnt, is now of pressing impor-
lance. IL was the desire to get things
started, that prompted some members
of the Senate to vote for the Lodge
reservations. Those who conscientious
ly voted for them in the final roll calls
realized, however, that they acted I'M
der duress. in that a politically bigoted
vVnv go.
power of its position to enforce drastic
conditions Happily, the voters of the
republic, under our system of govern
ment. can remedy that situation, and I
have the faith that they will, at the
election this fall. Then organized gov
eminent will be enabled to combine i'm
pulse and facility in the making of
better world, conditions. The agencies
OF exchange will automatically adjust
themselves to the opportunities of
commercial freedom. New life and re-
newed hope will take hold of every
shoulder to the task of readjustment
and new era will have dawned upon
the earth.
Republicans Failed
to Lift War Burdens.
We have domestic problems to he
settled. They are most pressing. MANY
conditions growing out of the war
will not and should not continue. The
work of readjustment will call for
our best energy, ingenuity, I'M
selfishness and devotion to the idea
that it is the general welfare we
must promote. One of the first things
to be done is the repeal of war taxes.
The entry of America into the world
war projected our people into an un-
paralleled financial emergency, which
was faced with a determination to
make every sacrifice necessary to vic
tory. Billions in, liberty loans sub
scribed by patriots regardless of their
financial conditions were instantly
placed at the disposal of the govern
ment, and other billions were gladly
paid into the Treasury through many
forms of taxation. To have paid by
current taxes more than one-third of
the expense of the greatest war in the
history of mankind is reflection on
the high sense of national duty with
which we of America view the obli-
cations of this generation. Imme-
diately following the armistice, meas
ureS to modify onerous and annoying
taxation should have been taken and
the republican congress in which all
tax laws must originate, and which
for almost two years haf exclusively
held the power to amelorate this
condition. has not made single ef-
fort or passed a single law to lift
from the American people load OF
war taxation that cannot be toler-
ated in time of peace. Federal tax
alton must be heavily reduced. and
it will be done at once. if a demo-
cratic administration is chosen in
November. Without hampering essen
tial national administrative depart
ments. by the eliminatio0 of all
, others and strict economy every
where, national taxes can be reduced
in excess of two billion dollars year
ly. Annoying consumption taxes. once