Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-01-09
BRYAN FAVORS
(Continued from Page One.)

sent national issues under bi-par-
tisan control.
The Initiative and referendum,
which. he declared. the democratic
party might we'll adopt as its next
great reform"
Mr. Bryan's speech was follows:
"Seldom has such an opportunity for
great service come to any party as now
presents itself to our party. But op-
portunity brings responsibility. Much is
required Of those to whom is given. A
soldier is a soldier until his day of OPP
portunity comes-after that, he is either
a hero or a coward. So with the party,
opportunities improved become stepping
stones to success; opportunities neglect
ed are millstones about the party's
neck.
Democrats Fitted for Task.
'The opportunities now offered are
as large as the nation and as wide as
, the world In this hour, when we take
| counsel together for the coming cam
paign, it is due of each member of the
| party. as l take it. to present the situa
| ton as he sees it. without stopping to
| inquire whether his views are shared
| by others.
| Permit me. therefore, to present the
more important of these opportunities,
as l see them. The nations are entering
| upon new era; old systems are pass
| ing away: democracy is dawning every
where. Our nation is the only great
nation in position to furnish the
moral leadership required. The nations
! Of Europe are busy with their own
problems; our people are the only ones
dsinterested enough to be trusted by
all. and the democratic party is the
! 1xhn
| task of leadership in such work
Praises Success Wilson Had.
| "a democratic president was the
spokesman Of the United States in
holding out to war-worn world the
| hope Of universal peace, and he brought
| back from Paris the covenant for a
| league of nations that provides means
for settling in disputes without re
sort to force. He did the best he could
and succeeded better than we had any
| right TO expect. when We remember
that be fought single handed against the
selfish interests of the world.
The republican party. in control OF
the senate. instead of ratifying at once
deemed necessary, has fiddled while
civilization has been threatened with
confederation 1t could have adopted its
reservations as well five months ago as
later, but it permitted endless debate
while suffering humanity waited.
New Situation After Losing.
The democratic members stood with
their president for ratification without
reservation and | stood with them. be-
iieving it was better to secure within
the league after 1t was established, any
necessary changes, than to attempt TO
secure them by reservations IN the
ratifying resolutions.
But our plan has been rejected and
we must face the situation as it is.
We must either secure such compromise
as may be possible or present the issue
to the country. The latter course would
mean q delay of at least fourteen
months and then success only in case
Of our securing a two-third majority in
the senate
Cannot Invite 0dium of Delay.
Eve cannot afford either as citizens
or as members of the party to share with
therepubiican party responsibility tor
further delay; we cannot 90 before
the country on the issue that such III
appeal would present. The republicans
have majority IN the senate, and there
!, fore. can. bv right. dictate the senate ::
course. Being IN the minority, we can
not demand the right to decide the term:
, upon which the senate will consent Il
f ratify. Our nation has spent 1U,00i
! precious lives and more than twenty biz
/ lions Of dollars to make the world SAT-
| for democracy. aud the one Fundamental
principle of democracy is the right o
j the majority rule 1t applies to th
senate and to the house as well as Il
] the people.
! Why Make Peace iiarder2
According to the constitution
treaty is ratified by a two-thirds vote
but the democratic party cannot affor'
! to take advantage of the constitutions
right of minority 10 prevent ratifica
. ton 4 majority of congress can declar
! war Shall we make it more difficult +
conclude treaty than to enter war
Neither can we go before the countr
| on the issue raised by Article \. |
= we do not intend To impair the right o
q congress to decide the question of peac
!, or war when the time for action arises
]. how can we insist upon a moral obliga
ton which can have no force or valu
except as it does impair the independ
ence Of congress?
I'VE owe it to the world to join i
n an honest effort to put an end to wa
4 forever and that effort should be mad
. at the earliest possible moment.