The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-01-10
SHALL THE PEOPLE DECLARE WARP


shall not become effective until confirmed
by a majority of the votes cast in a nation
wide referendum, except in the event of an
invasion of the United States or its terri
torial possessions and attack upon its citi-
zens residing therein, will be the subject
of considerable debate throughout the
United States.
already President Roosevelt and SecZ
rotary Hull have indicated that the passage
of such resolution By Congress would, in
their opinion, be harmful in the face of
present difficulties. In this position they
have the public support of former Cover
nor Alfred NJ. Landon, of Kansas, and
Henry L. Stimson, the last Republican
Secretary of State Consequently there is
little partisan politics to obscure the public
discussion of the issues involved.
Patriotic and intelligent citizens are to
be found on both sides of the question and,
strangely enough, using the same argu-
ment-that the advocated course viii be
more likely to keep this nation from be-
coming embroiled in war. Apparently, the
issue to be decided is solely whether such
an amendment will promote or. retard
the peace of the United States.
There can be little opposition to adj
hitting the fundamental right of the peo-
pie of this country to pass upon as vital
question as that involved in making a
choice between war and peace To act in
diligently, however, all the facts must be
publicly known and future implications
understood. This mean that secret diplo-
matte and military information must be
freely disclosed so that the people may
properly weigh the possibilities of given
situation. Whether such a course is wise
and whether it would work toward peace,
is, at least, subject to serious question.
In nation as extensive as the United
States, with a large population of diverse
elements, some functions of government
are delegated by the people to responsible
leaders. The Supreme Court, for example,
is delegated the power to interpret law and
apply it to modern life. While there have
been efforts to encroach on the judicial
field the bulk of legal power remains in
the Court because of the general belief that
this is best Similarly, certain powers are
delegated to Congress and the Executive,
not in denial of the peoples rights but in
the belief that it is to the best interests of
the people to do so.
Under present procedure the delicate
stage of diplomatic crises are handled by
the President, who has the advice of sea-
soned and intelligent officials who have
the facts at hand Whether they are more
likely to be swept off their balance by emo
ton than the population en- masse in a
crisis is a question that we believe their
judgment would probably be sounder and
safer. They are trained, intelligent and in
position to weigh all factors involved. If
they are not always devoted to peace, as
they should be, the fault will be with the
electorate which put them in office.
The Citizen has heard of mass psy-
chology, popular hysteria and the effects of
propaganda spread among people. It is
afraid of tie hatred that is so easily kind
led BeHSen peoples. AMY government in
the WORLD today-can arouse the wrath of
its nationals against foreigners" and get
a, popular vote of confidence for war if it
so desires. On the other hand not every
government is headed by genuine servants
of peace, anxious to help the world abolish
the evil of warfare.
Advocates of the Ludlow amendment
regard it as means of keeping the coun-
try out of war They think that requiring
the consent of the people to a declaration
of war viii be factor for peace. We doubt
it. Any person who studies the history of
past wars will be amazed at the waves Of
hatred that engulfed populations and the
brutality applauded by propaganda-fed
peoples. So far as we can see the Ludlow
proposal viii have no tendency to prevent
war propaganda but, on the contrary. may
easily lead future governments TO intensity
such efforts in order to be sure of popular
approval
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