Evening star., 1924-10-05

propose 10 perform our Obligations
under our treaties and under inter-
national law. We have had a graft
tying leadership IN promoting peace
ful settlements. Our policy has
established an abiding peace in this
hemisphere. But the people of this
country would never tolerate the sub
mission to any power or group Of
powers of the determination of any
of our domestic questions. II we
are to cooperate, we must be per
mitted to cooperate without the sac
rifice of our right to determine our
own policies"
At another point and in answer to
Democratic attacks for failure to par
tiCipate in international conferences,
Mr.. Hughes said:
We believe in international con-
ferenCes, but conferences arc directe I'd
at objects, and when we participate
il must be to the extent that We can
make good our obligations according
to our system of government and In
accordance with the dominant senti-
.cect OF our people. The to-c ard
exts.. ot our participation are gov
e-aed by these principles.
cs..szs Net c.sss
~Es Democratic attack sssraso to
have special reference to the League
of Nations ard its committees, NJ.
Hughes said, adding that II the de-
mand were that the United States
should join the league and thus fully
participate that would be an un-
derstandable demand
But it is precisely the position which
the Democratic party has refused to
y ha daClineH
for reasons of its own, to make the
question of joining the league an issue
in this campaign"
Not having Joined the league. Mr..
Hughes continued, he failed to see how
the United, ,States could assume to act"
as a member of that body ard incur the
obligations of members.
What do our Democratic opponents
propose?" the Secretary said. After
years of discussion, the test came in the
Democratic convention. There was an
acute controversy over the resolutions
on foreign relations and the resulting
plank in the platform, adopted after
bitter debate. must be deemed to state
the position of the Democratic party. 1t
has been in5orsed by the Democratic
candidate.
When we examine these proposals
we llIu liiSill W Oc iiicloi al thiiu HhS
In their general statements and wholly
impracticabe in their conclusions
After reading the section of the
Democratic platform proposing an ad-
visory referendum election on joining
the league, Mr.. Hughes continued:
Calls Proposal Absurd.
Probably a more futile and unsound
proposal has never been made by con-
vention of q great political party.
This is the proposal which the former
Democratic Secretary of War aptly
characterized in the convention itself
as a fanciful, Illegal, unconstitutional,
revolutionary referendum l need not
pay further attention to this absurd
proposal than to use his words"
Mr.. Hughes quoted at some length
from the speeth against the league
referendum clause made by Newton
D. Baker at the New York convention
during the platform fight. But aside
from its merits, he added, its adoption
was highly significant in another
sense" because it showed that the
Democrats have taken note of the
sentiment of the members of their
own party" and were unwilling to
risk the election on the issue of
joining the league"
Shows clearly the wisdom of the
Republican administration in seeking
not a continuance of the old con-
troversy, but positive achievement"
We have gone forward" he said.
with actual cooperation suited to
the generous purposes of our people
and with practical methods adapted
to the exigency."
The Washington conference and
~, II o1o ~
would in his Judgment be singled out
by impartial persons over the world
as the greatest contributions in the
interest of peace in recent difficult
years" He outlined the situation in
Europe as to reparations which the
Dawes plan was framed to remedy
and added in reply to critics who
scoffed because the Government had
not officially taken part in the dis
cussion:
What we did was to point the
way. Without our friendly
attitude and our emphasis on the
importance of adopting this method
and of calling in expert aid to deal
with the problem on its merits, sue
cess would not have been possible"
Third Party Definite.
Mr. Hughes reserved his fire at
the third ticket until the close of
his address. 1t offered, he said, "a
definite program" but he added that
remedies for abuses could be found
without overturning our institu-
tions.''
II do not believe" the Secretary
"in witch doctors or in
beating tom-toms to exercise evil
spirits, instead of seeking a suitable
hygiene to get the full benefit of
a sound constitutional system"
The first effect of the Independent
in case of success would
be no election at ALL" Mr.. Hughes
declared. adding:
The third party begins by threat
ening us with confusion and panic"
The second effect would be to r.'tie
up the organization of Congress" he
and added:
Whatever difficulties other coun-
tries may have with numerous
parties and coalitions, 1t is plain
that our system breaks down when
such divisive endeavors even threat
en- to prevent US from electing a
The third ticket proposal for
wide initiative and refer
endum, Mr.. Hughes said, lis a plan
of those who mistake agitation for
progress" What was really needed,
he added, was to improve and
representative govern
ment, mot to dilute it."
DepIore Attack on Constellation.
But Mr.. Hughes declared. "the most
serious and dangerous aim of the
third party to be its assault upon
the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
in the Interpretation of the Constitu-
ton" This was far more than a