South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-05
THE PEOPLE RATIFY.

simultaneously with the ending Of the interna-
tonal disarmament conference comes word that con-
gressmen seeking protect their powers will pass
resolution denying the right of any other officials
limit their right to decide the number Of bat
tleships this country Will have
Theoretically the congressman are fully within
their rights. AZ cold political fact no congress
would dare to vote money for battleships in
excess Of those agreed upon by the nations unless
one Of these nations break the agreement
Any dissatisfaction with this part work
OF the conference will be caused by the promise
stop building ships for and junk a Of
those already built.
The people. II they lodge any criticism. will ask
why the same argument for limitation would not
have been powerful enough to force a complete dis
armament and the ending Of all war burdens
The people. who pay the bills viii be happy
escape the small portion Of the burden which Is
lifted by the treaty which will be signed tomorrow
Under the constitution, the only officials who
have the legal right TO say what this country shall
do in the way Of maintaining war machine is the
congress.
II is doubtful, under strict Interpretation of that
document whether this right can he limited by
treaties and whether any future congress might not
II It wished. proceed appropriate battle
ships and enforce their building.
But there IS a guarantee the other nations
which is binding than the written constitution
That guarantee lies in the fixed and determined
purpose of this peorle to get rid Of war and i'm the
traditional policy Of the government 10 maintain
only adequate defense
This country will never invite wars by causing
fear in the hearts of other peoples. It win never
seek to terrorize world by a show of force. Tt
Will never cause any imperalLstic neighbor to
bark armament by force Of example.
Whatever the senate may may not do i'm the
way OF ratifyng all the treaties and bargains some
Of them OF questionable meaning some of doubt
ful value. the one big outcome of the conference
has already been ratified by a power that is SUI
preme to the senate-the people Of the United
States
Objectionable in theory are some OF the other
agreements and lacking they in power TO do
all that the people wish the bargain to shut off the
battleshp program viii meet universal approval.
That. by the way, would have been done without
any conference by congress that has any regard
for the real situation. The battleship as means
Of modern warfare has lost its terror power
Promising quit building more of these obsolete
machines is very much like promising TO buy no
more hintlocks muzze loading cannon.
There will be need Of more conferences and Of
wider participation time goes on This confer
ence money for bankrupt world. The next
may reach to the heart Of things and remove
war dangers by thinking in terms OF peace instead
OF reaching decisions from the viewpoint.
The movies have insured Will Hays for $4,000. 600
Must intend to push him over cliff.
Ninety percent Of the men looking for arguments
are single.
Financial writer says unsettled incidents expected
month BY incidents" he must mean bills