Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-23
SENATOR BORAH'S
PROPOSAL.

SENATOR BOKAHS
PROPOSAL.
CENATOR RORAH created nc
~ little surprise and consterna.
ton when he offered an amend
mcnt to the pending naval appro-
priation bill which carries $780,.
00o, 900, requesting the president to
call a new international conference
to consider the subject Of naval AND
land disarmament among the IA
tons, and at the same time to con-
slider German reparations under
the Versailles treaty and financial
and economic restoration in Eu-
rope. Senator Borah has been VIC
lently opposed to any interference
by this republic with European af-
fairs. He has been the leading adj
vocate of a policy of isolation for
this republic. Evidently he has
changed his mind radically since
the election two years ago. He
now frankly says that the prosper
ity of the farmer in the United
States is bound up with the pros
perity Of the nations Of Europe. He
declared to his republican asso-
ciates that the emergency tariff
bill and the permanent tariff bill
they passed had done the farmer no
good, and that nothing would do
them any permanent good but wild
er markets for their surplus pro-
duction. Those wider markets he
declared could not be obtained
while Europe was bankrupt and
in political and financial chaos.
Such chaos could only be ended
when the question of war repara-
tions was finally settled on a SEN
sible basis. Therefore, he was in
favor of the United States calling
a general conference of the nations
of the world and taking an active
part in it with a view to breaking
the present deadlock and achieving
a settlement that would permit Of
general disarmament in the world
and its people getting back to pro-
duction.
While we are surprised to hear
this line of talk coming from Sem
ator Borah, yet we are at the same
time impressed with it's justice and
common sense. His republican as
sociates will not be pleased with
his frank admission that the tariff
is practically no good to the Amer
lean farmer and that the ship sub
sidy bill would only be another
burden to the farmer and no help
at all. They are not likely to con
cede the truth of Senator Borah's
remarks because to do SO would be
to admit that they have film
flammed the farmer in their re-
cent legislation and that their cam
paign arguments last fall were pure
bunk. However, the farmers have
been coming to that opinion quite
fast of late. That is one reason
why they want to displace consid-
Grafton Of the ship subsidy bill
with further relief legislation.
Senator Borah's program for the
cure of the present world troubles
is briefly stated as follows: First
settle the question of German war
reparations on some reasonable
basis that Germany can hope to
pay. Second, stop spending vast
sums of. money in armies and
navies and preparedness for more
war in the future, and turn all that
force of men and money loose to
make things the world needs.
Third, get every one at work pro-
ducing wealth in some way, cut
down taxes and forget national
hatreds. ambitions and jealousies,
and let the world heal the scars of
war. 1t is a good program all
right if it can be done. And surely
it can do no harm to at least try
to put it in operation. Senator
Eorah is willing to try and to have
Uncle Sam take a leading part in
inducing other nations to join us
in the task of bringing il about.