The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-09
ABOUT The |. OF N.
j. d. Joseph of Whitewater, De-
tends League.
Why Not Settle Government
Differences in Court7
is THERE A BETTER PLAN?
Says Jim Reeds Opposition Is
Petty Jealousy.
We Want to Sell More and Pay
Those Who Credit Us.
IS THERE A BETTER PLAN?
BY J, D. JOSEPH.
Former State Senator.

/ soldle SGHdLOT.
In India mothers sometimes to APP
pease the wrath of God, throw their
babes into the River Ganges. Why
should we shrink from this supersti-
tious inhumanity. when 1t is being pro-
claimed from possibly one-half the
people in this country that the only
way to preserve America is to throw
our sons to the Demons of War: that
the unanimous decision with our own
representative voting in the council of
nations under the provisions of the
league would be to imperil our free
institutions and that safety and peace
demand that each great nation be so
armed to the teeth that they will be
afraid to attack each other. What
has been the policy of the world the
past two thousand years? Have not
the nations generally been armed
ready for war and have they hesitated
to attack on the slightest provocation?
The history of the world is a record
of carnage, and no decision by the
council of the League of Nations could
be made that would jeopardize this
and other nations as would another
war.
We as individuals go into court to
settle our differences. We may not
get justice but let the jury decide as
it may be we are infinitely better
off than to slay our opponent to gain
our ends. Why should any govern
nent deny its subjects the right to
settle their differences the same way
that nations settle theirs?
They Resort to Force.
The more uncivilized a people the
more they resort to force to gain their
ends. The Indian tribes in this coun-
try before it was settled by the white
race were constantly at war with each
other. AS people become more hui
name differences are adjusted by COM
promise, arbitration and courts in d.
rect proportion to the advance the
people have made.
If the doctrine of the Johnsons, the
Borahs and the Hardings is right, why
not Missouri prepare to war upon
Kansas and Kansas upon Okla
Canada? If Harding and Borah are
right our country made a mistake
when 1t agreed with Great Britain
one hundred pears ago to build no
forts on then Canadian frontier and
place no battleships on the Great
Lakes.
Criticises Administration.
We note Senator Capper criticises
severely the administration for keep
ing a few soldiers on duty peacefully
Guarding a frontier while at the same
time he is using his great influence
to perpetuate q policy that sends all
our sons to the slaughter pens of war.
Yes, bring our sons home. but bring
them home under the treaty of peace
on earth and good will toward men.
Bring them home-yes, but bring
them home to stay and not simply to
prepare for another conflict such as
even the world war would seem peace
full in comparison.
We care nothing for the Democratic
party or the Republican party as par
ties only, but we feel it our duty to
fight to the last ditch against going
back to the past. It seems to me eff
forts to go back would be TO seek the
realization of a hideous dream.
Is There Better Plan?
Is there q better way than the
league? Suppose there is. The league
is a fact signed by practically every
civilized nation except the United
States. 1t is folly to suppose we can
reverse the decision of the world and
thereby assume leadership to the point
of being the dictator of every other
nation.
The Johnson Borah Harding follow
ing a few weeks ago claimed to have
discovered better way in an Inter
national Court and Boosted that Elihu
Root, the greatest of American attor-
neys had gone to London to assist in
perfecting the new plan. But 1t now
appears that Mr.. Root went over to
help arrange for the International
Court already provided for in the
League of Nations; and therefore.
since Wilson had a vote in its crea-
ton It too must be destrOyed-lauded
Yesterday and condemned today
Why?
The following from the Literary d.
80 la ms
THE Sun New York; does not hesi-
tate to call down Mr.. Root, Repub-
lican secretary of state. saying:
" No scheme of international Juris
prudence, that is superimposed upon
a Wilson League of Nations or that
grows out of the covenant upon which
Wilson and Governor Cox insist can
be made by any jugglery of phrase or
sophistry of logic acceptable to Amer
lean sentiment. etc.
Pleas of Jealousy.
Why? wilson-that's all. To con-
tinue militarism with all it's horrors
is nothing, when having decided to
spite the president of the United
states How long will the American
people listen to such pleas Of petty
jealousies?
1t is generally understood. for ex-
ample, that Jim Reeds opposition to
the league and every thing else that
has had the endorsement of the presi-
dent is nothing but spite because he
was not permitted to name the Kansas
City, Mo, postmaster. Must all of us
suffer that Jim Reed may get his re-
venge?
Must Cut Expense.
We wish to sell more, buy more,
have those we credit pay US, and
pay those who credit us. To do this,
the world must get rid of the stupea-
dous expense of militarism. This, more
than all other things combined. en-
slaves labor, paralyzes business. STILES
progress and undermines good govern
ment-
The Hardings say destroy Wilson
and all he has touched. I answer
destroy militarism and all that goes
with II