Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-14
WAR REFERENDUM
| FOR ALL PEOPLES,
MARION PROPOSAL
Senator Discusses With
George Harvey Bryan's
Plan to End Offensiyes.
WOULD "DWARF" MOVES
TO PERPETUATE PEACE
President-Elect Gives Evidence of
open Mind" at Con-
favnun..
By ROBERT =. SMALL.

MARION, Ohio, December 14.-New
interest in the coming of William
Jennings Bryan to Marion on Friday
nAs oeen lent by statement from
Soi' George Harvey, house guest of
senator and Mrs. Harding, that he
ana the President-elect have been dis.
cussing seriously the last few davs
the feasibility Of the United States
standing as sponsor for an assocja
tion OF peoples who shall pledge their
reepectiVe governments for all time
never 10 engage In offensive warfare
unuI the question has been submitted
70; ana decided by, the people them
This idea of a war referendum no.
neen close to Mr.. Bryan's heart for
!0nE time. He espoused It with par
ssSuAdF passion at the jackson day
9lnners In Washington last January.
ne declared 1t was the people who
they should be consulted before the
MAKING or war was begun. This
would not mean vote of the people
In the event of an invasion or an un-
warranted attack by another power
Inc temper of the people in such cir
enoum TO give itself expression.
SuPpOft Tor MR. Bryan.
comparatively little attention was
pald 70 Mr. Bryan's suggestion at the
time 1t was made, but now support
Tor his plan has come from an unex-
pected quarter. Col Harvey, who has
peen spending several days at the
daroinG home on Mount Vernon ave
nue.. has announced the chief topic Of
Prestdent-elect has been q proposal
which he characterized as "dwarfing
All previous propositions designed to
nSspe.nsse PEI ns peace and to democratize
So tar as can recall IL, Mr.. Rryan's
plan for a referendum of the people
oe1ore declaration Of war was to
apply to the United States alone. Col.
Harvey would have an aesOciation Of
nationS a9ree to such 4 plan, With
us,,d sns Ua,tea aNs States. aii-povsrfui in
sos for the entire sFg1nisak oh.
citned TO dtscuss The matter. IND Coi
Harvey. while disclaimipg aay au-
snon.y. to speskx g. personaiis-
pressed the belief that q practscabIe
49, !9enl4 ~ devised through friend-
~ eoneUto4t0n and helpful co-onera
tiOn with other nafione.
HafAinx's AOpen Mf.a..
As the conferences respecting the In.
Transitional relations Of the IInited
St1tss proceed here at Marion, Sena-
sor. harding gives every evidence of
Keeping An entirely open mind. When
Ehhu Root was asked at the end Of
ms long and important conference
with MI. Harding il any conclusion.
nao been reached he replied very de-
The nature of the conferences ,hs
President-elect is holding Ia such as
NOT 20 lead to any immediate or def
mite conclusions. Ny own talk With
senator Harding was most delightful
and most satisfactory"
100 MI Root DID not see the Harvey
probably would not have commented
upon 1t IL he had. Like ALI other
schemes of international arrange
ments. the whole plan would fall
down II all the nations of the world
did not join.
Having participated in the formu-
lation of the plans for a perma nent
court Of international justice it was
natural that Mr.. Root should have
ewef for some time in his talk
ticular phase of a possible interna
tional accord. Although this court
is now a part of the league of ma
tions. Mr.. Root evidently 10 Of the
opinion it could continue to function
even II the league of nations. found
ed at Versailles. should fall to pieces.
This would be made possible by an
amendment to the general arbitration
treaties in effect today among most
of the civilized powers. These
treaties agree to the arbitration of
certain disputes. such as the inter
pretation of treaties and of inter-
national law codes, but in each dis
pute it Is necessary to choose
board or commission OF arbitration.
The permanent court offers a ready
means of deciding issues promptly.
and IL powers now AFFECTED by the
network Of arbitration treaties in
erect should agree that disputes al
ways should be. referred to this
tribunal both Senator Harding and
Mr. Root believe q long step will be
made toward abolishing war.
Mr. Roots Opinion.
Mr.. Root does not believe the court
viii make war impossible. The court
might declare itself on a question of
right. but it would be pOwerless to
stop a war which had its inception
in question Of policy. Mr.. Root
does not believe it possible to com
neF' nations to submit their Qu2rrels
to an international court.
But Mr. Root would commit the
limited States to the court, and. like
Mr. Taft, he would not except from
the Jurisdiction of the court even
questions Of so-called national honor.
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