Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-25
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

Ambassador Houghton: cat all
events, a day should be fixed, on
which all the people so pledged would
be given an opportunity to vote for or
against ratification--so that, by the
simultaneous action of the individual
voters in all the great nations in
volved, the full responsibility for that
agreement would be dramatically
brought home to each, and each can
be made aware that the issue Of
peace or war between them will be
thereafter in their own hands,"
Secretary Whoozoo: what Ameri.
can war has ever been fought in
which the Congress and President de-
claring It were not speaking accord
ing to the overwhelming sentiment Of
the American people? When Woodrow
Wilson was candidate for reelection
to the Presidency, his campaign slo-.
gan was, He kept us out Of war; yet
month after his second Inaugural.
ton he demanded that Congress de-
clare our entry into war. Was that
contrary to the voice of the people?"
Senator Sorghum: "You rely on q
popular vote Of the qualified voters,
rather than on the responsible action
Of their chosen representatives in both
touch with conditions. When have
the voters, by majority of those
qualified legally to vote, and really
obligated as citizens to express their
views at the ballot box-when have
the masses risen above their humble
and prosaic tasks of earning a living
as you express it so truly, and really
voted? When would the average
voter become qualified mentally to
have any judgment on the issues
which he is too busy to study? Would
you be able to hold the enemy in
check six months or year while the
press and the orators explained that
the Emperor Of Boshunton was MAX
ing ready to capture New York and
hold it in ransom for the payment Of
$4,000, 100000 indemnity for his dam
ages In our letting one of the princes
be murdered in Kamchatka? Would
IT be possible to interest these Pacific
Coast or Midwest Americans in the
issue Of safety of the White House
and the Capitol? Even President
Madison refused to foresee an in
vaslon until the enemy's bands could
be heard In the suburbs Of Washing
ton. What would you do about the
propaganda contradicting the truth?
This Is a country of free speech and
free liars, you know"
Ambassador Houghton: 'If the
danger OF war is to be lessened. A.
suffcient measure OF control, It seems
to me, can be obtained only when the
self-governing peoples definitely ana
constitutionally take the decision into
their own hands"
Senator Sorghum: "By that same
argument, all the principles Of repre-
sentative government must fall. Then
every American who comes as a self.
conducted tourist into London should
be qualified to go over the head Of
our Ambassador and tell Great Britain
where she should head in. This is a
representative government of, and by.
all the people. You propose. in place
or a republic. an anarchistic pure
oemocracy-such as never lived"
Secretary Whoozoo: "Let the peo-
pie rule! But they won't. Even
when the public Is educated by the
public press and by campaign orators.
not Tor few months but continu-
ously, and especially through a six.
month national campaign, they neglect
to vote for President or for any vital
issue. The Census Bureau estimates
the total population for 1924 at 49,
100000. II 1915 per cent were qualified
TO vote, the 1924 electorate would have
numbered 55,440,00O but the total
vote cast for President in 1924 was
29,099,131. That covered both candi-
dates. So the percentage Of qualified
Americans voting for President in
1924 was 52.5 per cent, and the STAY
at-home vote was Ats per cent. You
propose that the decision as to defend
Ing our Nation In a crisis shall be put
on the vote OF a majority Of qualified
voters-not ma jority OF those voting.
but Of those entitled to vote. So all
stay-at.homes would count for letting
the enemy have its way. regardless Of
its ruthlessness or the importance Of
self defense. Safety In any fight de-
Ponds usually on promptness of re-
sistance, before the enemy gets tho
advantage. Probably a large number
OF those who actually vote would fear
personal injury In war-though
really have too high a regard for
American courage to discount II in
actual battle. The propaganda enc
my would have his opportunity to
confuse the issues to the uninformed
voter, who, you say. Is too engrossed
In making living to know what the
danger Is that confronts the Nation.
Have we not had enough agitation
against national patriotism?"
An Innocent bystander cheered and
sneered. "Militarfsts!s
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