Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-08-07

l TORY was dcnleVeu at Nue pedce Lap4e.
The republican proposal means
dis dish0nor1 world confusion and de-
1t would keep us In permanent
company with Germany, Russia, Tur-
key and Mexico.
1t would entail, In the ultimate,
more real injury than the itself.
The democratic position on the ques,
| ton. as expressed in the platform, Is
I I'VE advocate immediate ratification
OF the treaty without reservations which
| would impair its essential integrity, but
! do not oppose the acceptance of any res
ervation making clearer or more specific
| the obligations of the United States to
| the league associates"
The first duty of tho new admin
istratiOn clearly will be the ratih-
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 / am confident that the
friends Of world peace as it will be pro-
| NOTED by the league, will have in num-
| bers the constitutional requisite to ia
! Vorable senatorial action. The captions
may say that our platform reference to
| reservations is vague and indefinite, its
| meaning, in brief, is that we shall state
our Interpretation Of the covenant as d
matter OF good faith to our associates
| and as precaution against any mis-
! understanding in the future. The point
| IS lHdL after the people Snail nave
! spoken, the league will be In the hands
! of its friends in the senate, and a safe
| index as to what they will do is sup
| piled by what reservations they have
J proposed Ia the PAST.
REFERS TO ARTICLE
| WRITTEN FOR TIMES.
Some months ago, in a contributed
article to the New York Times. / ex-
pressed my own opinion of the situation
| as II then was.
| l reproduce it here:
| There can be no doubt but that some
| senators have been conscientious in their
desire to clarity the provisions of the
| disturbed them: First, they wanted TO
make sure that the league was not to be
| al alliance, and that It's basic purpose
was peace and not controversy. Second,
| they wanted the other powers signing
| the instrument TO understand our con-
stitutional limitations beyond which the
treaty making power can not go. Deal
| ing with these two questions In order,
| it has always seemed to me that the in
| depreciation OF the function of the league
| might have been stated in these words
| In giving its 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 maintain
! ing peace and comfy among the nations
of the earth and preventing the reeur-
| renee of such destructive conflicts as that
/ through which the world has Just passed.
The cooperation of the United States
with the league and its continuance as
a member thereof will naturally depend
upon the adherence of the league TO that
Fundamental purpose
such a declaration would at least ex-
press the view OF the United States and
Justify the course which our nation
would unquestiOnably follow II the basic
purpose of the league were at any time
( distorted. Ii would also provide against
any misunderstanding In the future and
Z gf ha me a
OF those who believe that we might be
inviting a controversy over our constitu-
tional rights, by making senatorial ad-
dition in words something Ike 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 can not In any way
be altered by the treaty making power.
\ VITAL PRINCIPLES
STAND UNCHANGED.
Unquestioned friends of the league have
made other proposals
Our platform clearly lays bar
against any additions that will be
helpful. but Ii speaks In n firm reso-
luton to stand against anything that
disturbs the vital principle.
We hear It said that interpretations arc
{ unnecessary. That may be true, but they
I viii at least be reassur!ng to many OF
. our citizens, who feel that In signing the
Z treaty, there suNuiu DE no mental LFatt-
vations that are not expressed in plain
words, as a matter Of good faith TO our
associates.
Such interpretations possess the fur
Their virtue of supplying base upon
which agreement can be reached, and
agreement, without injury to the cove
nant is now Of pressing importance.
1t was the desire 10 get things started,
that prompted some members Of the sen
ate to vote for the Lodge reservations.
those, who conscientiously voted Tor
ever, that they acted under duress, In
that a politically bigoted minority was
exercising the arbitrary power Of It's
position to enforce drastic conditions.
Happily the voters Of the republic, under
our system of government, can remedy
that situation, and | have the faith that
/ they viii, at the election this fan Then
| organized government Will be enabled 20
combine impulse and facility in the max
ing of better world conditions. The agen-
cies OF exchange will automatically ad-
commercial freedom. New life and re-
newed hope viii take hold Of every ma
ton. Mankind will press resolute
shoulder to the task of readjustment and
earth.
We have domestic problems to be set
tied. They are most pressing. Many
conditions growing out Of the war Will
( of readjustment will call for our best
l energy, ingenuity, unseldshness and de-
votion to the idea that 1t is the gen.
eral 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 I'M
paralleled haneial emergency, which was
| faced with determination to make ey-
| cry sacrifice necessary TO victory. Bill
! lions in Liberty loans subscribed by pa
/ trlots regardless OF their financial con-
dition were instantly placed at the dis
1 Iosal of the government, and other bill
| lions were glaoly paid into the treas
ury 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 a
| duty with which we Of America view
the obligations of this generation.
Immediately following the armi-
| stiee measures 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 has
| exclusively held the power to amol-
iorate this condition, has not made
| a single effort or passed single Law
| to lift from the American people
| load of war taxation that can not
| be tolerated in q time of peace.
Federal taxation must be heavily re-
duced, and it will be dope at once, II
a democratic administration is chosen
IN November.
TWO BILLION CUT
| HELD POSSIBLE.
Without hamrering essential national
administrative departments, by the ell
mination OF all others and strict econ
| vmy everywhere, national taxes can ne
reduced in excess OF two billion dollars
| yearly.