Evening star., 1937-12-22

fundamental principle of responsibility
in government.
The adoption Of this amendment
would take away from this system OF
responsible representative government
the final and effective decision rs to
war and make 1t dependent upon the
direct action Of a population Of over
l30. .000, 900 people exercised through
Nationwide referendum. No Na-
wide referendum upon any ques-
ton has ever been held by our Gov
ernment nor has any such system Of
direct action on such q subject as
war been exercised anywhere else by
a population of similar size or va
riety. 1t is a brand-new experiment
in the most vital and delicate function
that a government can be called upon
to perform.
Would Hamper Defense.
In tile second place, II adopted and
legally adhered to- 1t would not only
revolutionize and destroy our existing
plan for national defense but it
would, under the conditions of modern
warfare, make any system of national
defense much less effective If not
almost impossible. This can be easily
shown.
Under such circumstances this pro-
posal deserves most serious consider
alton 1t cannot be treated lightly.
With the support in the House Of
Representatives now demonstrated to
be behind it, the mere bringing of it
forward cannot but seriously affect
our national position in the world
today 1t may be regarded among
our neighbor nations as indicating
weakness of national policy and be-
havior at a time when stability and
steadfastness are pre-eminently re-
quired.
The chief argument on behalf of this
measure made by its sponsor. Mr.. Lud-
low, was that inasmuch as the Amer
ican people already can cast their
ballots for constables or dog -catchers
or on the location of pesthouses or
waterworks," and inasmuch as the
declaration of war is q much more
important function than any of these.
therefore, they should handle this
question in the same manner. The
short answer to this is that the COM
parative Importance Of the two func-
tions is not the sole criterion of appro-
pirate method.
Risk in OverrulinE.
There are other elements which
enter into the question, notably the
complexity or difiicuity Of the proposed
decision. 1t is much simpler to catch
dogs or to choose constables than it IL
to carry on the long, difncult series of
negotiations and decisions by which a
nation steers its course SO as to avoid
war and preserve peace, and in the
light Of which 1t makes the final fate
full decision as to whether the time has
come when immediate forceful action
is the only way to preserve the nation
against a much greater danger later
on
questions Of our individual lives when
we come to the important question OF
whether We shall submit to . major
surgical operation, we do not hold a
popular referendum among our friends
and count noses on the subject: we
leave the question to the most re-
sponsible and expert surgeon We can
find and. trusting in his abundant ex-
perience and in the exercise of his
proved fidelity and character, we place
in his hands the decision whether it Il
necessary that our body shall be SUBJ
mitted to mortal risk. Responsible
representative government Is based
upon the same fundamental method
OF choice.
International war Is merely the final
act OF long drawn n-out national pol
icy. the product of many prior de-
cisions and the weighing of many
divergent considerations With these
basic considerations the general pub
lie in any nation is necessarily un-
acquainted and nowhere more 50 thar
in our own country, buried In Its
time -honored confidence in its own
seclusion. The people who by our
Constitution must keep themselves
familiar with these questions are the
President. the Secretary of State and
the members of the respective COM
mittees of Congress. They are the
experts to whom we have entrusted
the guidance of our ship through the
many vicissitudes which have led up
to the ultimate decision as to war.
They are our chosen experts and rep
resentatives to whom we have long
since entrusted the determining fac
tors Of our fate. In making their
ultimate decision we cannot overrule
them without the gravest risk. ..
Present System Works Well.
Furthermore, when We consider the
lNSsOnS Of the mast ma AnA that II,