Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-04-10
COMBINATION
OF POWERS TO
PREVENT WARS
by FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

lUS VI lllb dllilibllCSt pAdtllCdlly lile
whole civilized world has had its
attention turned to the question Of
a combination of the powers of the
world for the prevention of future
international clashes. Woodrow
Wilson shocked a good many peo-
pie by leaving the country of
which he was then chief executive
and going to France to try to put
through the league of nations. He
succeeded in this abroad, but met
an insurmountable obstacle at
home in the United States senate.
But few days ago the last of
the treaties negotiated at the re-
cent conference here for the linz
itation of national ornaments was
ratified by the senate. These trea-
ties, 1t Is sincerely hoped. will give
the world breathing spell at least.
il not prove permanent panacea
for troubles between the nations
Of the earth.
1t is not to be expected that
such a great undertaking as group
ing the worlds Anations in bonds
Of common vantage and accord
can be accomplished in short
time. Our own country we look
upon now as indissolubly bound to-
gether Yet in its early days it
went through such difficulties and
internal trials that the statesmen
of Europe were continually ex-
pecting the complete breakdown
Of the American experiment" AS
lately as 60 years ago, two sec
tions of our country were engaged
in q bitter strife, one part seeking
to separate itself from the other
because of conflicting opinions
touching the views of the limits to
which the rights of states extended.
The efforts tox bind the ma
tions of the world together to some
extent are not unrelated to the
early struggles to make one nation
of the new states on this continent.
The first plan under which they
were united proved a failure, and
led to the formation and adoption
of the constitution. Regardless of
what individuals may think of
some of the late amendments to
that instrument notably the
eighteenth-lt is today the Oldest
of the oldest continu-
Gus government In the world, ac-
cording to Arthur Deerin call, sec
rotary of the American Peace So
ciety, and editor of the Advocate
of Peace"
Would Extend Law and Order.
This organization, which has
been in existence since 1915, pur-
poses TO prevent the injustices of
war by extending the methods Of
law and order among the nations.
The society has just completed
a booklet giving a valuable history
or the formation of our republic.
with the suggestion that the lessons
set forth in those events are of
great value in considering the pre-
vention of war throughout the
world.
The first great document in the
move of the colonies to free them
selves from the British crown was
as every school child knows, the
Declaration OF Independence. is
sued July 4. 1875. 1t was not I'M
til March 4. 1889, that the consti-
tuition went into effect. During the
years between the infant republic
was struggling to bind the several
states into one whole which would
stand the test of time and trouble.
A committee was appointed by
congress to draw up the articles of
confederation at the same time the
committee was named to draft the
Declaration of MISUNDERSTANDING
IL. 1875. The articles were adopt
ed on November Is of the same
year, but were not ratified by all
the thirteen states until March /,
1881.
Because the legislatures of the
new states ratified the articles of
confederation, but the people did
not do so by direct vote, it was felt
in many quarters that the instru-
ment had no binding forces. Some
states failed to comply with all of
the provisions. Some encroached
on the authority of the federal
government, newly set up. States
trespassed on each others rights
Commercial conditions became des-
perate. There was no adequate
judiciary, especially for settlement
of disputes between the states.
Congress found itself unable to col
lect certain taxes it had levied. The
states were flooded with paper cur
rency of little value which speedily
became worthless.
States Acted Independently.
Some of the states were nego-
tiating separate treaties. Others
were carrying on private wars with
the Indians. The states maintain
ed their own armies. The credit of
the new republic was very bad.
Every social experimenterg was
shouting his favorite remedy from
the housetops. Not q few were
clamoring for monarchy. In this
grave situation, Alexander Hamil-
ton suggested a convention to re-
wise the articles of confederation.
Congress ratified this suggestion on
February 81. 1897.
When the convention met
George Washington was chosen as
It's chairman. The work got under
way slowly. Eventually bold
change of plan was decided upon.
Instead Of revising the articles of
NNAihN'Ni "hloiiI Lilt dtlCEdltS uttlu-
ed to draw up new document for
the approval of the people. In this
idea was the inception of the con-
stitution OF the United States. The
result OF these deliberations every
body knows--or should know.
The American Peace society now
puts forward Suggestions for a
governed world" which may he
briefly summarized as urging the
nations to agree as follows:
!. To institute conferences of
nations at regular intervals, in
continuation of the two confer
ences at The Hague.
2. To convoke conference as
soon as possible for the advance
ment and extension of interna-
tional law.
3. To establish an administra-
tive council of diplomats accred-
tied to the country in which the
international law conference is
held, to represent the interests Of
their governments until succeed