The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-22
Declaring War.

49, pgovisicns Of the constitution Of Tho
Unito6 States the power to declare war rests
Win congress All wars have thus been de-
cleared. and little fault has been found with
that metAod Of procedure since all declarations
have bean preceded By unmistakable crystal
IllEstion u peblic sentiment When the United
States declared state OF war with Germany
~ people wanted such thing to be done.
Ipreaident Wilson had numerous causes Tor war.
but waited patiently and watched public opin-
In. which became stronger and stronger with
recurring examples Of German impositions. 1t
b safe 10 say that the country would have been
ho0ind tho government II 1t had entered the
~ much earlier than 1t did. The same thing
"a - said about the Spanish-American war.
n6lic sentiment famed from coast to coast
~ flom north TO south. Again the people
1Gege with the government in going to war
~ Spain
TN The vsstng Of the authority to declare war
~ congrsss seems simple and regular and
1pgioal The two houses. under the constitution.
A|sprssent directly the will Of the people. Con-
Txsse exists because Of the necessity Of SIM
Sllfytag legislative procedure. nation of
TnGeo than one hundred million people could
Ut 10 otherwise than to concentrate its law
Goking power in Q congress- A vote on war
declarations. such % suggested by the Ameri-
ean Federation Of Labor, Is not reasonable or
practicable. 1t has been proposed that the
power to declare war be taken from congress
end given directly over to the people, making
imperative q nationwide referendum. The
suggestion Is unsound because 1t does not tend
n contribute, in any way. either in a better
e15ety for the country or q clearer UNDER
aaading BY the government Of what the people
want Besides congress can be trusted only
- declare war when it is right for the nation
. enter a conflict Congress cannot be
Shasysd with having made declaration Of
var that was not just and right.
= Tho proposal made by the convention at
Denver has feature that is manifestly un-
reasonable and unfair. Providing that a decla-
ration Of war must have the approval Of =
majority Of the voters 1t goes ON to outline
that all those voting in favor Of the declara-
uon Of war be compelled to take up the actual
prosecution Of the same before those who voted
against the declaration OF war. That gives
pacinsts. slackers, so-called conscientious OBJ
sectors and other enemies Of the government
the right to remain at home and let the
real Americans do the fighting. Nothing could
- worse than such an arrangement. The or
= ssfnators Of the foolish plan forget that when
y America 10 at war It is everybody's war. moi
- war for some to fight and for others to watch
In safety. Abraham lincoln considered the
nation one and indivisible. The nation must
- undivided In war and undivided in peace
i fhA majority rules, and when the majority
@een or votes the plan adopted is plan fol
dlNene minority included No amendment to
~ eonstitution, conceived on such an Nm.
AAG1can plan, would be acceptable to any.
pay Who understood the simplest funda
Aentals Of the government under which the
1ves and BY the grace and strength Of which
- has bis liberty. his freedom and his right
opretest them.