Connecticut western news., 1920-08-19

ciateg and as a precaution against any misunderstanding in the future. The point is that after the people shall have spoken the league will be in the hands of its friends Tn the senate, and a safe index as to what they will do is supplied by what reservations they have proposed in the past. Some months ago, in a contributed article to the New York Times, expressed my was. I reproduce 1t here:
 "'There can be no doubt but that some senators have been conscientious in their desire to clarffy 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- sy. Second, they wanted the other powers signing the instrument to un- derstand our constitutional limitations beyond which the treaty-making pow CT 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:
 "'In giving its assent to this treaty, the senate has, in mind the fact that the League of Nations which 1t em- bodies. was devised for the sole pur- pose of main<eining peace and. comity 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 a member thereof. will naturally de- pend upon the adherence of the League to that fundamental purpose
 Such a declaration would at least express the view of the United States and justify the course which our na- ton would unQuestionably follow if 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- neve that we might be inviting a con- troversy over our constitutional rights, by making a senatorial addition in words something like these:
 "It 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.
 "Unquesuoned friends of the League have made other proposals. Our platform clearly lays no bar against any additions that will be help ful, but 1t speaks in a 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 at 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- tons possess the further virtue of supplying a base upon which agree ment can be reached, and agreement, without injury to the convenant is now of pressing importance. It 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 it will be done at once, if a 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 moving cuusamptIOn taxes, once will ingly boR@e, now untustifed, should be l repealed. The incomes from war-made fortunes, those of non-producers and l those derived from industries that exist by unfair privilege may be able to carry their present l@ad, but taxes on 1 the earnings of the wage-earner, of the i sataried and professional man, of the 1 cpT5c11tI1raI ru-nS}xtnpr and of tho sr,,o Il