The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-04-20
EASY TREATY-MAKING

William j. Bryan and Senator Owen, of Okla
homa, would so amend the constitution as to
permit the senate to ratify treaties by ma
jority instead of two-thirds vote That is to
say, these statesmen would have international
arrangements entered into with less clrcum-
spection, less consideration, less debate. They
would make it as easy to adopt treaty which
might impose tremendous responsibilities on the
nation as it is to pass an ordinary bill.
But multiplicity of treaties is not desirable.
They are the most solemn and important con-
tracts that can be entered into They are far
reaching in their effects and often framed to en-
dure in perpetuity. Sometimes for good but
as often for i'll they affect the destinies OF hum
dreds of millions of people. Such obligations
should not be lightly assumed No time IS mis-
spent which is devoted to their critical exam
nation.
Neither do treaties prevent wars. All the ma
tons now or lately at war had previously had
treaties with one another Not mfrequently
causes of contention grow out OF treaties which
would not have existed had they not been made
The covenant provision that America shall qua
rantee the territorial integrity Of other states
ca rries within it the seed Of many and bitter
wars. Except for arrangements OF formal
kind, the fewer foreign entanglements nations
POAA>Ng
ence.
Treaties are often matter OF partisan poll
tics advocated by one party and opposed by an
other. Ratification by bare majority would
make it easier for the party which CHANGED to
be dominant to bind the nation to doubtful
arrangement which the wiser half Of the peo-
ole disapproved. Treaties are like laws, good
things when they are needed; and 1t is easy
enough to make them as it u.s.
The railway strike should be warning toi
Americans to arouse themselves from their
dream of fancied security against radlcal1sm.
We have held that the workers OF the country
ire too sensible to be led astray by radicals.
We're our workers all Americans, this would bel
rue. But the great influx Of foreigners IN re-
cent wears has given us large foreign element
,monc the workers and this element is the easy
,rev of socialistic agitators. The foreigners are
strong enough to cause US great deal OF trou-
lie unless we either suppress or convert the
.adicals among them. 1t means work and lots
# work. But the substitution Of Amerlcanlsm
or radicalism will make it worth while
Congressman Albert johnson, Of Washing
on. has had printed in the Congressional
Record the complete file in the case of one Paul
3osco. notorious s'red,'' showing how he was
sent to the Atlanta penitentiary,
entence reduced, arrested for deportation, and
hen released on a bond of one thousand dol
ars to continue his preachings against the gov
rnment. The case is typical Of the impotency
f the government to rid the country OF danger
ur aliens who are continually plotting for it's
overthrow.
There is no evidence, however, that the diff !
ulties of friendly intercourse with Mexico will
,e smoothed out with the country under two re-
,ublics instead Of one.
Ii three miles make league, how long will
be before the treaty is ratified?