Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-09

FOR ALL WORLD.
Permit me, therefore, to present the
more important Of these opportunities as
see them. The nations are entering
upon a new era old systems are passing
away; democracy Is dawning every
where. Our nation is the only great
nation in a position to furnish the moral
leadership required. The nations of
Europe are busy with their own prob
lens; our people are the only ones dis
interested enough to be trusted by all,
and the democratic party Is the party
whose ideas best fit for 1t for the task Of
leadership in such a work.
"a democratic president was the spokes-
man Of the United States in holding out
to a war-worn world the hope Of univer-
sal peace, and he brought back from
Paris the covenant of a league Of ma
tons that provides means for settling
International disputes without a resort to
force. He did the best he could and
succeeded better than we had any right
to expect, when we remember that be
fought, sing'e-handed, against the sell
fish interests of the world
1.-THE republicans party in control of tho
senate, instead of rattfying at once or
promptly proposing changes that it
deemed necessary has fiddIed while civ
HiSatiOn has been threatened with con-
flagrntiOn. 1t could have adopted its
reservations as well five months ago az
later but it permitted endless debate
while suffering humanity waited
THE democratic senators stood with
the president for ratification without res
ervation, and l stood with them, believ-
ing that it was better to secure within
the league, after 1t was established, any
necessary changes, than to attempt to Sc
cure them by reservations in the ratify-
ing resolutions. But our plan has been
rejected and we must face the situation
as it is. We must either secure such
compromises as may be possible or pre-
sent the issue to the country. The lat
ter course would mean a delay of at least
fourteen months and then success only
in case of our securing a two-thirds ma
jority III the senate.
PARTY CAN'T SHARE
RESPONSIBILITY OF DELAY,
I'VE can not afford. either as citizens
or as menb ers of the party, to share
with the republican party responsibility
for further delay; we can not go before
the country on the issue that such an
appeal would present The republicans
have a majority in the senate and, there
fore, can by right. dictate the senate's
not demand the right to decide the terms
upon which the senate will consent TO
ratification. Our nation has spent 1OO-
600 precious lives and more than twenty
billion dollars to make the world safe
for democracy and the one fundamental
principle of democracy is the right O.
the majority to rule. 1t applies to the
senate and to the house as we'll as to
the people. According to the constitu-
ton treaty Is ratified by a two-thirds
vote, but the democratic party can not
afford to take advantage of the consti-
tutional right of a minority to prevent
ratification. A majority Of congress can
declare war. Shall we make 1t more
difficult to conclude a treaty than to
enter war?
Neither can we go before the country
on the issue raised by Article 10. II
we do not intend to impair the right of
congress to decide the question of peace
or war when the time for action arises
how can We insist upon a moral obliga
ton to go to war which can have no,
force or value except as 1t does impair
the independence Of congress?
1--WE owe 1t to the world to join In an
honest effort to put end to war for
ever, and that effort should be made at
the earliest possible moment.
"a democratic party can not be a
party Of negation; 1t must have a con-
struction program. It must not only
favor a league Of nations, but 1t must
have a plan for the election of delegates
and a policy to be pursued by those
delegates. What plan can a democratic
party have other than one that con-
templates the popular election OF those
delegates who, in the influence they Will
~ h.. H., 30 N11a
president himself2 And what policy can
the democratic party have within the
league Of nations other than one of alb
solute independence and impartiality ne
tween the members of the leaguel Our
nations voice should at all times he
raised in behalf Of equal and exact jus
lice between nations as the only basis
of permanent peace; it should be raised
in defense of the right Of self-determina'
ton and in proclaiming a spirit of
brotherhood as universal as the peace
which we advocate.
DOMESTIC PROBLEMS
AFFORD OPPORTUNITY.
eve have domestic problems also
which offer an opportunity to render
large service, and one objection to
thrusting the treaty into the campaign
is that it would divert attention from
questions demanding immediate con-
Germ. We are confronted with the or
ganization of new parties on the theory
that the old parties do not meet the
issues that have arisen. Our party is
the one party that can qualify for the
meeting Of these issues. 1t can oppose
a class party because it Is not itself
the party of a class, but the party OF
the whole people, regardless of class.
RI hos a
capitalistic party and has permitted tar
if barons to write the tariff laws, trust
magnates to direct the policy Of the
party on the trust question, railroad
presidents to dictate its policy on the
railroad question, while packing house
companies and other profteers have
used it as their own. It would divide
the country into class parties and by
it's own attitude compel the formation
of a farmers party and a laborers'
party.
THE democratic party, on the con-
trary, stands for the protection Of the
rights Of every class, dealing with each
citizen as an individual instead of as a
member of a class. 1t has, since 1t has
been in power, given the commercial
classes a splendid currency law, it has
given the farmers a farm loan law; it
has given labor an eight-hour day and
greater security in It's rights, and has
given to all the people relief from the
high tariff burdens that had beer placed
upon consumers. Democracy contem-
plates cooperation between all elements
and the promoting of the welfare OF
society in general.
1T would prevent strikes, not by pro-
hibItory laws, but by the creation of
machinery which will investigate dis
putes and thus secure a peaceful settle
ment Of differences before the contro-
versy reaches the stage of strike or