The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1924-01-18

lied. We do not believe that they
|could be hurried much. European
affairs will be badly mixed for many
years. What is the object Of our get
ting into the mix-upq Now We can
20 in and ''advise' or Observe"
Or we can stay out, just as we please.
Why not retain this Independent at
itude?
Again, we are practically the only
creditor nation on earth What
would you think, as a business
proposition Of sitting in with your
debtors, on even terms; they with q
majority Of thirty to one, to fix upon
J he terms of settlement of their debts ?
What do you think you would get out
Of it7 Such questions are bound to
come before any League of Nations,
and America would have ever less
show to get its money back than it
has today.
Did you ever know a creditor who
was right pOulsr on pay day? The
United Staes is going to be the most
unpopular nation on earth; first, be-
cause all the other nations are indebt-
ed to it, and, second, because it is
more prosperous.
The proverbial SNOWFALL in Inferno
would stand a much better chance Of
securing justice than would the Unit
ed States in the League.
We would not enter any League.
We would stay out Of any World
Court. We would stand ready to
take part in any specific information
al parley we saw fit, and just as
ready to stay out.
y We would keep on saving wood,
standing pat, sitting pretty.
We know just where we are now
. We do not know where we would be
as a member of the League.
Other nations may cajole or threat
en-, but we are able to pursue our
course utterly independent either of
their taunts or flattery. There are
no strings to US. We can be aloof
= md isolated when occasion requires,
or we can lend advice and counsel
when we think best. There need be
no fear but that we will be asked to
participate in every international
confab. The only trouble is hat we
will be asked too often.
To join any league means, and
should mean, the surrender of some of
our own prerogatives and independ-
ence. We have Just as much influ-
ence and prestige at present, and we
have surrendered nothing.
We confess that our million dol
lar peace plan has nothing sensation
al about it. 1t lacks the idealism Of
Henry Ford's peace ship or Wood
rows Utopian dreams. But it has
one great advantage-it is workable.
, 1t has been tried and proven. 1t is
Q not an experiment.
II Let us keep on maintaining the
, same high, unselfish standards, join
ing with any nation or nations
when the occasion arises that we may
!, help restore conditions and promote
!, peace, but tied to no machinery, in
! volved in no general treaties, either
, with or without reservations.
!, This is u Million Dollar Peace
q Plan. 1t was approved by some
seven million majority at the last
presidential election. Under it VIC
have accomplished great things. 1t
: has not prevented the gradual re-
construction of Europe, but has aided
it in many avs. 1t has not lost US
anything in prestige or influence. 1t
! is safe. 1t leaves us free to join in
everything that is good and to stay
, , out of all that is questionable or bad.
!. Voting is so much the rule of the
: day that we would like to hear from
our readers. Which would you
!, choosef The 500, 900 Plan which
provides for our entrance into the
! league of nations with certain reser-
vations.
The opposition plan which provides
that III foreign policy be enacted
into an inflexiblc constitutional
amendment, with army and navy APP
preparations also a part Of the con.
stitution and out of the hands OF
congress.
Or our Million Dollar Peace Plan