The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-10-31

Even If these conditions obtain. my
friends statement that the war is a
long way off still
Would Hut is correct. 1t would
Our Commerce be three or four
thousand miles from
American shores but the point of diff
ference is that we are a commercial
nation and = the European powder key
explodes our commerce would be af-
fected. Indeed, 1t would be virtually
destroyed
But, it will be asked. why not live
within our own shell? The answer is,
we cannot do so. Our ships, carrying
the products of our farms and facto-
ries. would be plying the SEAS Ma
tons at war do not take the time al
ways to learn the character of cargo
aboard ship at sea nor do they in
quire its destination or the purpose
for which 1t is to be used. Then, we
hear of the overt act. An American
ship with an American crew and an
American cargo Is sunk. Or, Ameri-
can-owned and manned business units
in some one of the belligerent coun-
tres suffers from one of the various
things that takes place during the war.
1t may be the act of some hot-headed
foreign national or 1t may be DELHI
crate move by government. but the
die Is cast. An American citizen is
killed, an American flag Is insulted.
We are in it.
1t seems to me, therefore, that we
have every reason to watch closely
those developments abroad. Our own
people are not blameless for some of
tie conditions that develop. For in
stance, the following day after MIR.
Roosevelt issued his proclamation pro-
hibiting exports Of arms and NUM-
tons and, by inference, prohibiting
dealings of any kind with Italy and
Ethiopia, New York exporters rose
with mighty howl and the Port De-
velopment Authority in New York pro-
tested. One group saw all opportuni-
ties for profitable business stricken
out by the prohibition against exports
and the other, with proper civic pride
complained that the executive action
would wreck New York city as mari
time center. Their complaints were
natural, quite human, but their refusal
to accept the national policy simply
represents one of the many things con-
shutting an early step that may sub
Sequently be one of the foundation
stones Of war.
do not mean to say in these col
Imns that we should become a peace
at-any-price nation. Or the contrary.
| think that is cowardly position for
any nation to take. What l do empha
size, however. Is that ii we are to have
~ intarraticna, pnlir- we Should ad
here to it. Shoes will pinch in some
places under any law or policy but
certainly if the United States is to be
a world leader, the broader instead
of narrower view must be taken in
times like these.
Now, let US consider the govern
mental problem. / said earlier that
congress undoubtedly
NeutTotIty had acted in accord
Edict ance with the views
of majority of our
people, President Roosevelt has chosen
to accept the neutrality resolution as
mandate from congress which gives
him almost no discretion. His arms
embargo. his shipping prohibition and
his warning to American citizens that
Il they travel on boats belonging to the
belligerent powers they do so at their
own risks was the narrowest construc-
ton possible to have been placed on
the neutrality edict Of congress.
Congress is not III session and will
not be back here agar until January.
The Presidents hands are tied unless
he decides to call congress into extra
session and that, of course, will not
be done unless sudden flames of war
sweep over the whole world Therefore,
If Mr.. Roosevelt clings to the policy
which he has adopted In narrowly con-
STRUNG the neutrality resolution until
the congressional session opens in
January, congress can do no more than
commend him for following its dictates.
But If any of the conditions enumer-
ated above should place the American
neutrality position where test must
be had. congress must accep. the
blame. So. as long as Mr.. Roosevelt
follows his present course and throws
himself completely on the law, the
President can make short answer to
those who would enlist this country
In international action. That position.
of course, has its weaknesses because
something ma develop overnight with
which he cannot deal under an infex-
ible law but, on the other hand, the
fact that he can do little without call
ing congress back. certainly provides a
cooling-off period during which the
thoughts of nation may crystalline.
g Western Newsnaper Union