Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1921-09-07
PUBLIC OPINION AND
THE CONFERENCE.


THE CONFERENCE.
One of the most significant polit-
ical developments of the last few
months is the insistent demand of
the public to participate in the direc-
ton of affairs that affect its inter
ests. The New York Evening Post
in commenting upon the fact says
that it first made itself manifest
when the Bill calling for a Confer
ence on the limitation of armament
was before congress.
"From every section of the coun-
try" it continues came an unceas-
ing demand for its acceptance until
President, Senate and House all gave
way. Senator Borah deserves the
greatest credit for his vigorous fight
on behalf of his amendment, but it
was the public which transformed
him from the leader of an apparently
forlorn hope into a victor. There
has seldom been a finer instance Of
the rallying of nation to a states
mans support.
The Evening Post very properly
remarks that public sentiment does
not work automatically. 1t matters
little what the public thinks if it does
not take the trouble to lift up it's
voice.
That the same public opinion that
urged the holding of the Arms Con-
ference is now declaring itself in IA
vor of open sessions is shown by the
hundreds of letters and printed edi-
torials on the subject that have been
received by the Editor & Publisher
and which are being reproduced from
week to week in these columns.
Newspapers of every section from
the Gulf of Mexico to Hudson Bay
and from New York to the Golden
Gate are almost unanimous in their
support of the open sessions move
ment, but if it is to be made success
full a public sentiment must be
created that will sweep away all OPP
position when the subject comes up
for action before the conferees at
their opening session.
The people of the United States
were the first to insist that the pro-
ceedings of the world-power dele
gates to this most important of all
conferences since the war shall be
open to the public. We are sick and
tired of secret treaties and diplomat
ic agreements and therefore want the
full light of publicity thrown upon
the proceedings, and yet Senator
Lodge, in utter disregard of public
opinion, told his associates a few
days ago that it would be wholly
out of place, futile, bad manners and
leading to nothing for our repre-
sentatives at the Limitation of Ar
maments Conference to urge the
holding of open sessions! This is
absurd.
1t is time that Americans declare
their views on the big questions of
the hour in no uncertain tones, even
though they may not agree with
those of Old World diplomats. In
the opinion of The News instead Of
being bad manners to let foreign
delegates know what the opinion of
our people upon open sessions is, it
would be good manners" because
it would give those visitors from
abroad who may have similar views,
the courage to break away from pre-
cedent.
What the newspapers need to do
now is to explain to their readers
the evils of secret diplomacy. They
should make plain the fact that un-
less full publicity is given to every
stage of the proceedings of the Arms
Conference our country may be i'm
perilled by the action taken, in spite
of the united efforts of our own rep
resentatives to prevent it. If the
work is thoroughly and efficiently
done the President and the Confer
ence will be compelled to give SER
ious attention to American public
opinion and yield to the insistent and
righteous demand that all agree
mania he made in the omen