The Raymer enterprise. (New Raymer, Weld County, Colo.) 1910-19??, 1920-08-12

ed to make sure that the league wa.
not to be an alliance, and that Its basi,
/ purpose was peace and not coptrover
~. Second, they wanted the otheI
powers signing the instrument to un
derstand our constitutional limitation.
beyond which the treaty-making pow
er cannot 60. Dealing with these twt
| questions In order, 1t has always seem
| ed to me that the Interpretation of the
| function Of the league might have beer
stated In these words:
"In giving Its assent to this treaty
the senate has In mind the fact that
the League, Of Nations which Il EN-
bodies was devised for the sole pur'
pose Of maintaining peace and comfy
among the nations Of the earth and
I preventing the recurrence Of such de-
structive conflicts as that through
which the world has just passed
The cooperation Of the United States
with the League and Its continuance
% a member thereof, will naturally de.
pend upon the adherence 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 ma
ti0n would unquestIonably follow II
the basic purpose Of the League were
at any time distorted. II would also
appear to be simpler matter to pro-
vide against any misunderstanding In
the future and at the same time to
meet the objections Of those who be-
lieve that we might be inviting con-
tr0versy over our constitutional rights.
by making a senatorial addition In
words something like these:
"'It will of course be understood
that In carrying out the purpose Of the
Lea cue. the government of the United
States must nt all time act In strict
harmony with the terms and intent Of
the United States Constitution which
cannot In any way be altered by the
treaty-maklng power.
Helpful Additions Not Barred.
"UnQuestioned friends Of the
League have made other proposals.
Our platform clearly lays no bar
against any additions that will be help
full, but II speaks In firm resolution
to stand against anything that dis
turbs the vital principle. We hear It
said that interpretations are unnneces-
sary. 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 be no mental res
ervations that are not expressed In
plain words, as matter Of good faith
to our associates. Such interpreta-
lions possess the further virtue Of
supplying base upon which agree
ment can be reached, and agreement,
without injury to the convenant, Is
now Of pressing Importance. It was
the desire to get things started, that
prompted some members Of the senate
to vote for the Lodge reservations.
Those who conscientlously voted for
them In the final roll calls realized,
however, that they acted under duress,
In that politically blgoted minority
was exercising the arbitrary power Of
Its position to enforce drastic condi-
TONS Happily the voters Of the re.
public, under our system of govern
ment, can remedy that situation, and
have the faith that they will, at the
election this fall. Then organized
government will be enabled to combine
impulse 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
nation. Mankind will press resolute
shoulder to the task Of readjustment
and new era will have dawned upon
the earth.
Federal Taxation.
"Federal taxation must be heavily
reduced, and 1t will be done at once,
II a Democratic administration Is
chosen In November. Without hamper
Ing essential national administrative
departments, by the elimination Of all
others and strict economy everywhere,
national taxes can be reduced In ex-
cess Of two billion dollars yearly. An
noylng consumption taxes, once will
ingly borne, now unjustifled, should be
repealed. The incomes from war-made
fortunes, those of non-producers and
those derived from Industries that exist
By unfair privilege may be able to
carry their present load, but taxes on
the earnings Of the wage-earner, Of the
salaried and professional man, Of the
agricultural producer and Of the small
tradesman should be sharply modified.
believe that better form Of taxation
than the so-called excess profits tax
may be found and suggest a small
tax. probably one to one and one-half
per cent on the total business Of every
going concern. It 10 to be understood
that the term business as used does
not include income received by wage
earners, salaried men, agriculturlsts
and the small business man who should
be exempt from this tax. The profiteer
and some Of the highly capitalized
units have used the excess profits tax
a. favorite excuse for loading on the
consumer by means Of highly inflated
selling prices many times the amount
nrfunl1v maid tho SUnvnrnn,enf A