New-York tribune., 1920-10-16

necessary to any good American pro-
gram namely, that it shall have been
made ~ the advice and the will of the
teoPle ana snail have a united America
behind it.
Il am sure l am right when I saw
that America is fairly we'll united
against the program and the policies
winch. for nearly eight years, have
been forced upon them, both as to the
conduct of our relations with the rest
OF the world and the conduct of those
affairs at home in which we ought to
set an example to the rest Of the
world ''e
Crisis of Stagnancy
AS TO the mlsmanagement of our
domestic affairs, as to neglect. in
efhciency, waste and wild experimenta-
tion, believe there no longer exists
any. substantial difference of opinion.
1t is plain enough to the people of
TINS country that both their economic
and social life has been allowed in
some places to drift into stagnancy
and IN other places has been over
turned by unwarranted interference by
an unwise administrative government
exercising unconstitutional and dicta
torial powers
I'VE have had too much government
IN business and not enough business
in government We have spent an
amount equal to the cost of the Civil
War because Of the attempt to manage
our American railways. Happily, we
have already turned our backs on gov
ernment ownership and operation of
railway, shipping and communication
lines.
1--WE have seen an administration
bring us to the eve of disaster in
which we must all share, first in 1914
and now we are being led toward an
other crisis of stagnancy and unem-
ploylnent. Those who are leading us
toward a precipice now ask to be per-
petuated. To this plea to remain in
power | believe that the answer of
the American people is already made.
II believe that the American people
hold 1T as piece of common sense
that no man shall be allowed to write
a third chapter of the Democratic Book
OF Destruction. 1t is common sense
for selfish reason; namely, that we
DO not want American business, which
is mostly small business and every
body's business, driven onto the rocks.
But there is another reason of COM
mon sense which makes every good
American draw back from the pros
pect of our continuing to set q bad
example to a perplexcd and distracted
world
Upon its face this program is not
only tragically unwise, but, from a
PRACTICAL point of view, wholly i'm
possible. We may as we'll be utterly
frank and say that Democratic Pres
ldent, even if he were elected, would
not be able to bind the American peo-
pie or mortgage their conscience and
their honor under Article X, for the
simple reason that he could not sum-
mon sufficient votes in the Congress of
the United States to support his pro-
gram.
"His attempt would result in an
other stalemate, and an unwilling
America would find herself just where
she has been ever since the bungled
negotiations at Paris.
"The reason that Democratic Pres
ident could do nothing toward putting
into effect our membership in the
League of Nations, just as it stands,
is that, behind the representatives in
Washington, the American people have
rejected membership of that kind.
They rejected it long ago; they will
continue their refusal to enter the
Paris league as it stands. The pro-
posal of our opponents that the Amer
lean people shall accept it as it stands,
without changes, is an additional cf-
frontery, and the American people are
justified in asking those who make it,,
How many times must we say no?'
81 have said repeatedly that, when
elected, l will Immediately summon
the best minds in America, represent
ing an all-American opinion, to con-
suit and advise as to Americas rela-
tionship to the present association of
nations, to notifications of it or sub
sttutes for it, | have said that
will consult the peoples representa-
tves, duly elected, just as the Con-
sttution bids me to do.
81 repeat now that this will be my
course and it will be taken by me be-
cause it represents the American
spirit, because it is the only lawful
and appropriate course that Presi-
dent should take.
"One very good reason why our
country cannot now specify a plan for
our relationship in an association of
nations is because the worlds affairs
are in a state of fux, and detailed
plan to-day may become useless to-
morrow and embarrass those who have
committed themselves to carry it out.
Let ME say that | am committed
to Il policy of America doing every
thing that she can, acting either in
dependently or with other nations, to
prevent future wars. place only
two qualifications upon her contribu-
ton. First of all her contribution
should actually be something to pre-
vent war. We must not involve our
selves in a form of association which
actually creates more dissension and
more wars than it suppresses or avoids
Must Exercise Conscience
"The second qualification l Yiara
upon Americas contribution, ana
have said this increasingly, is that
America must retain the right to eX-
ercise her own conscience. I have
said, over and over again, and | re-
peat now, that will not be deceived
by the argument that we could agree
TO tie Paris league and then CREEP
out of our bargain to send our boys
to Europe at the call of a super-gov,
ernment.
''It is true that Congress could re-
spond to the world councils call fol
armed forces, but that would be the
reputation of q sacred moral obliga
tion which we would take in accepting
Article X. Such proposal ranks among
the most contemplate ever presented
to an honest people. l am against it
heart and mind and soul. | am in
| favor of the prevention or war, but
am not in favor of the prevention OF
war by means which l believe to be
ineffective at the cost of American in
dependence and American honor.
Let US summon some high testi
mony on this very important question