The Cordova daily times., 1921-04-16
Affirmative

an affair between two or more coun- tries but is a matter of vital interest to the whole world. War is like a great conflagration which, once start ed by small spark, may spread in- definitely. Hence it is obvious that when the World war started in the summer of 1914, that war was a mat ter of the deepest concern to the Uuited States.
 We saw the conflagration spreading and we did not lift a hand to stop it. On the contrary we added fuel to the flames; we furnished the belligerents with war materials and other sup plies, selling them at fabulous prices and making huge profits. Our presi- dent announced to the world that we were "too proud to fight" and that we must remain neutral in thought and action
 Time wore on. The war flames kept spreading and one country after another was drawn into the conflict. At length, nearly three years after the war started, we too were forced into it. We went in with a will and our utmost man-power and material resources were directed toward the one object of winning the war
 The United States was the deciding factor in the outcome. But our president stepped in and said that it must be a "peaCe without victory" He undertook to dictate the terms, that the League of Nations should be "inseparably interWoven" in the peace treaty. And finally, after thus taking matters out of the hands, of the allies, we refused to ratify the treaty
 The allied nations, in fighting the central powers, were fighting our Night. The sacrificed themselves to the limit in order to keep up the fight and save civilization from Prussianism The least we can do, after the part we have played, is to forgive the debts which they con- tracted in order to carry on this war for the common good.
 If this country had taken a firm 5oinstand at the beginning of the war and had warned Germany that we would join the allies and help fight her to finish and make her foot all the bills, she would never have gone ahead. The Germans had been assured that we were "a nation of dollar-chasers," that our army and navy were "contemptible" and that we would not fight, no matter what was done to us; and they believed this. We let them go on under this false impression, and we are nor ally to blame, in part, for all that has happened since.
 We are rich nation. The 10 bill hOhS WllICl IAAI OLlIVl l4cIAOAAo O"S Lo us on account of supplies bought from us at profiteering prices are nothing to us; they represent only a four per cent tax on our natnonal wealth. If we would cancel these debts and thus show our goodwill to the world it would do more to win us the friendship of the nations than anything else we could do.
 We now hold mortgage on these other nations that fought for our in- terests when we were "to proud to fight" for them, If wa foreclose that mortgage and collect principal and in- terest we shall find that every dollar 80 received will be a curse to us. We can have our pound of flesh" but this will be the first thing that can happen to us.
 We are probably not going to be paid anyway, so the sensible thing is to forgive these debts and get the credit for being generous. Then the world could take a fresh start and things would soon be humming again.
 When people are shipwrecked or there is any other great calamity, everyone is expected to share what they have with those who are less fortunate. All the world now is ship wrecked and it is the duty of this na- tion, which has been so bounteously blessed by Providence, to go to the rescue of the sufferers. We collect millions for the Chinese, the people of the Near East and others who are afflicted and we consider we are doing a highly meritorious act there, by; why not extend our generosity
 Bread cast on the waters will re turn after many days. It is our op