The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1920-08-18

any MISUNDERSTANDING w N 'ne Iuture
The point Is that after - 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 reservations they
| have proposed In the past. Some
months ago, In contributed article to
the New York Times, l expressed my
own opinion of the situation as 1t then
was. reproduce II here:
| "'There can be no doubt but that
some senator's have been conscientious
In their desire to clarity the provisions
Of the treaty. Two things apparently
have disturbed them: First, they want
ed to make sure that the league was
not to be an alliance, and that its basic
purpose was peace and not controver-
~ Second, they wanted the other
powers signing the Instrument to I'M
derstand Dur constitutional limitations
beyond which tee treaty -usakies pew
err cannot go. Dealing With these two
| questions In order, 1t has always SEEM
ed to me that the Interpretation of the
function of the league might have been
stated In these words:
"Tn giving its assent to this treaty,
the senate has In mind the fact that
the League of Nations which 1t EN-
bodies was devised for the sole pur-
pose of maintaining peace and comfy
among the nations Of the earth and
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
as member thereof, will naturally de-
pend upon the adherence of the
League to that fundamental purpose
"Such u declaration would at least
express the view of the United States
and Justify the course which our ma
ton would unquestionably follow IL
the basic purpose of the League were
at any time distorted. 1t would also
appear to be a 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-
troversy over our constitutional rights,
by making senatorial addition in
words something like these:
att will Of course be understood
that in carrying out the purpose of the
League, the government Of the United
States must at 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-making 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 1t speaks in firm resolution
to stand against anything that dis
turbs the vital principle. We hear 1t
said that interpretations are unnneces-
sary. That may be true, but they will
ut 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 a matter of good faith
to our associates. Such interpreta-
lions possess the further virtue of
supplying a base upon which agree
ment can be reached, and agreement,
without injury to the covenant, Is
now of pressing Importance. 1t was
the desire to get things started, that
prompted some members of the senate
to vote for the Lodge reservations.
Those who cOnscientiOusly voted for
them In the final roll calls realized,
however, that they acted under duress,
in that a politically bigoted minority
was exercising the arbitrary power of
its position to enforce drastic condi-
tions. 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 a resOlute
shoulder to the task of readjustment,
and a new era will have dawned upon
the earth.
Federal Taxation.
Federal taxation must be heavily
reduced, and 1t will be done at once,
If 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
noying consumption taxes, once Will
ingly borne, now unjustified, 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 he sharply modified.