Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-06-15
riank In the Republican Party Plat
form Condemning League of Nations.

e form COndemning League of Nations
: The republican party stands TO,
agreement among nations to preserve
l the peace of the world We believe
lhal such an international association
must be based upon international ius.
uce, and must provide methods which
shall maintain the rule of public right
py development Of law and the deci-
sion of impartial courts. and which
shall secure instant and general in
ternauonal conference whenever neace
shall be threatened by political action.
so that the nations pledged to do and
insist upon what is just and fair may
exercise their influence and power for
the prevention of war.
We believe that all this can be done
. without the compromise of national in
dependence, without depriving the peo-
pie OF the United States in advance
OF the right to determine for them
selves what is just and fair. when the
. occasion arises, and without involving
them as participants and not as peace
makers in a multitude of auarrels the
merits of which they are unable To
judge.
Ihe covenant signed by the president
at Paris failed signally to accomplish
tnls purpose, and contained stipula-
tlons not only intolerable for an indie
pendent people, but certain to pro-
duce the injustice, hostility and con-
ItroVersy among nations which it pro-
posed to prevent.
mat covenant repudiated to a de-
gree wholly unnecessary and unjusti-
IlaDle the time honored policy in favor
OF peace, declared by Washington and
JEFFERSON and Monroe and pursued by
all American administrators for more
than century, and it ignored the uni
Versal sentiments of America for gen
eratlons past in favor of international
law and arbitration and it rested the
nope OF the future upon mere expe-
diency and negotiation.
The unfortunate insistence of the
president upon having his own way
without change, and without any re-
gard to the opinion of a majority of
the senate, which shares with him in
the treaty making power, and the pres
ldent's demand that the treaty should
be ratified without any modification,
created situation in which senators
were required to vote upon their CON
sciences and their oaths according to
their judgment upon the treaty as it
was presented, or submit to the COM
mands of dictator in a matter where
the authority under the constitution
was theirs and not his.
The senators performed their duty
faithfully. We approve their conduct
and honor their courage and fidelity
and we pledge the coming republican
administration to such an agreement
with the other nations of the world as
shall meet the full duty of America
to civilization and humanity in accord
ance with American ideals, and with
out surrendering the right of the
American people to exercise it's judg-
ment and its power in favor of justice |
and peace
The Republican Platform Summarized.
The republican party reaffirms its
unyielding devotion to the constitution |
and will resist attempts to overthrow
the foundations of the government.
An inexcusible unpreparedness for
war, costing lives and imperilling the
victory, is the chief indictment against
the democratic administration.
Unpreparedness for peace and lack
of vision, leadership and intelligent
planning have left the country to shift
for itself The government has con-
tinued on a wartime basis. Under a I
despot's plea of necessity or superior
wisdom, usurpation of legislative and
judicial functions still undermines our
institutions.
We undertake to end executive au-
tocracy and to restore to the people
their constitutional government.
Despite the unconstitutional and die
tatorial course of the president and the
partisan obstruction of the democratic
minority, the republican
majority has enacted a program Of
legislation which in great {
part has been nullified by the vindic- ]
tive vetoes of the president (
A republican congress reduced the !
administrations estimates for 1920 al s
most three billions despite the stub s
born opposition of the administration E
The annual expenses of federal opera {
ion can be reduced hundreds of mil &
ions of dollars without impairing eff /
We pledge ourselves to
planned readiustment and to {
4 policy of rigid economy. 7
We congratulate the republican con- {
yress on the enactment Of budget law '
md condemn the veto of the president. S
We advocate a businesslike consoli- t
lation Of federal departments and bur-
,aus. 7
The president clings tenaciously to il
lis autocratic wartime powers and will 0
lot restore the form of government n
provided by the constitution. This i
lsurpation is intolerable v
Our taxation is staggering but we
ace the fact that no early reduction
n the amount to be raised can be ex-
Iected.
Sound policy demands early accom- G
lishment of a real reduction of the L
ak burden. We advocate a simplified a
orm of income returns and the crea- =
ion of a tax board to make recon- :
!. ...... ~