The Topeka state journal., 1921-04-26

there neither can be nor will be any
, return to normal conditions of trade |
and commerce, and no permanent re-
| turn to international peace. The sec
| ond is Russia, where 17S,00O,000 peo- |
pie occupying some of the most fertile
! areas of the globe, are slowly sinking
under the weight of an 1ntolerable
despotism into political and social
anarchy. 1t is a catastrophe process
which outside interference is power
! less to affect, but whose worldwide
/ results cannot be computed. The
| third undoubtedly is America, whose
| attitude toward the problems that
have followed the ending of the great
/ world war awaits definition altho two
years and half have passed since the
( guns were stilled. What that attitude
! is to be America alone has the right to
/ decide but the rest of mankind is well
within its rights in calling upon us for
decision.
Look to the Future.
| please understand that 1 have no
/ desire either to suggest or introduce
| any controversial question which
might disturb the prevailing harmony
of this harmonious gathering. Least
/ of all do 1 desire to rake over the
| thinking entirely in terms of the
| future. But the spectacle of a great
/ nation, unable in a time of real crisis
! to take decisive action, and powerless
| because of divided counselS to move
either forward or back, is one which
should give US food for serious
| thought. tiny sailing craft whose
/ steering gear is out of order is of Little
! consequence in its trouble to anyone
but itself; but when a great liner lies
i wallowing in the waves along fire.
/ quented lanes, with its fires banked
! and engines stopped, while captain
and crew debate, it is not only in peril
ltself but a menace to all VINO travel
| ON the sea. One cannot but wonder
Whether the Fathers in their excess
| or caution, did not go further than
/ modern reason should demand John
| Hay, when secretary of state, despair
! lhgly exclaimed that the fathers in
/ their wisdom, had decreed that for all
time the 'kickers shall rule and that
a treaty entering the senate was like
Dull entering the arena; one couId NOT
| tell when or how the blow would fan
ne could only be sure that the bull
would not come out of the ring alive
| Inc constitutional requirement of a.
i t"o-thlrds vote in the senate to ratify
d treaty mad Its origin in the jealousy
Oh some or the thirteen original states
toward their neighbors; but Rhode Is
land is no longer afraid of New York.
anu MAINE does not shudder at the
thought of Texas. Is there any rea-
son today why the same senatorial
d
tlon OF war and pass the most far
reaching and important statutes, can
4 not be equally trusted to advise and
consent where treaties are concerned? =?
w mat early excuse is SNthere for giving
TO one senator opposed to a treaty as
nuch weight as to any two who favor
IL In the era of broader national and
international interests upon which,
willingly or unwillingly, We are un-
dou0tedly entering, it is of paramount
concern to make certain that our yes
sci will answer to the helm
Enter on New Era.
THAT we are entering upon such an
era, who can doubt? With our far
flung insular possessions, our new
merchant marine, our foreign debts
j and investments, and our expanding
, trade, with our rightful insistence
, upon the open door, and our eager
. desire for peace, it is quite conceiva-
, bic that foreign policy may be-
1 come not merely an important, but the
i most important factor in our national
: life. 1t can be safely based only upon
: information transmitted with exact
ness and digested without prejudice.
This leads me to say a word on a
subject which lies very near my heart,
and in which 1 can no longer be sus-
pected of a personal interest. / think
, you will agree that no matter how
. diligent or faithful the agents of the
Associated Press may be, or how many
tare the outpostS from which they
iwatch the passage of events, the gov
Aernment cannot act upon newspaper
sreport alone. 1t must have its own
3staff of trained correspondents and
iagents. Notwithstanding an opinion
(which seems to have prevailed, the
diplomatic and consular service is not
sand never was a merely ornamental
Noranch of the government. On the
Tcontrary, it is our first line of defense.
The trenches, therefore, should be
manned with troops who are both
well-trained and, what is equally i'm
portant. well-equipped and weil-fed
They should not be required while
| they are in service to forage on the
| Icountry or to act as their own COM
missaries. Nothing is less democratic
in our democratic country than our
| refusal to compensate those who serve
us. The nation has the right to the
| services of all her sons. rich and poor
| alike. but she should not ask 1t upon
terms such that none but those with
| private means can afford to serve. She
should maintain her Representatives
| abroad, not in luxury or ostentatlon
but in such manner as her own Dig
nifty requires The only truly demo
cratic rule is that no public Office
should be a source of private gam
on the other hand. 1t should not i'm
pose upon the holder personal loss
Wrongs Can Not Last.
est am speaking not only of ambas-
Isadors and ministers. but equally oil
the trained personnel of our diplo,
imatic and consular service, W1thoui
Whose efficient aid no chief of mis-
Ision can hope to discharge his duties
II know many of these men and I an
iproud of them. BY and large. they art
an able devoted and efficient body OF
public servants. As one after another
has come to me in recent years tc
iconfess his discouragements and has
lasked whether 1 would advise him tc