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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 1913)
rswflrPtfPFTyvn;'' The Commoner AUGUST, 1913 PEACE TREATY NUMBER ONE The readers of The Commoner have been kept Informed of the progress made by the peace plan which; last April, by authority of the president, the secretary of state presented to all the na tions represented atWashington. Twenty-five nations 1 Italy 2 Great Britain' 3 France 4 Brazil 5 Sweden 6 Norway - 7 Russia 8 Peru 9 Austria 1 0 Netherlands 11 Bolivia 12 Germany 13 Argentina 14 China 15 Dominican Republic 16 Guatemala 17 Haiti 18 Spain 19 Portugal 4 20 Belgium 21 Denmark 22 Chile 23 Cuba 24 Costa Rica 25 Salvador, have accepted the principle. This represents more than four-fifths of the population of the world. Salvador, thfc twenty-fifth to accept the prin ciple, went further than the rest and. accepted all the d''ails. Thus, she -vins the distinction of being the first to join in the treaty with the United States. None of the other nations have made objec tions to any of the details, but have them under consideration. But for the fact that this is the vacation season and most of the representatives are away, it is probable that a number of other nations would have before this come to an agree ment with the United States as to the details. However, the movement is now under way and the first treaty, which may be considered as presenting the views of the administration, is set forth below. This government is willing to agree to any reasonable change in details the principle only is important. It will be sent to all of the American embassies and legations and the readers of The Commoner will be noti fied as the nations severally come to an agree ment. It is the belief of many that the treaty marks a new era in peace negotiations and that the principle embodied In the plan which the presi dent has offered to all natipns, great and small, will ultimately be accepted in treaties' which other nations make with each other. Surely war is made more remote in proportion as time for investigation and deliberation can be se cured. It will be next thing to impossible for nations to engage ill war if they take a your to think about it and look into the disputed facts. Text of the United States-Salvador Peace Treaty The text of the United States-Salvador peace treaty follows: "The United States of America and tho Re public of Salvador, being desirous of strengthen ing the bonds of amity that bind them together and also to advance tho cause of general peace, have resolved to enter into a treaty for that purpose and to that end have appointed as their plenipotentiaries: "The President of the United States, the Hon. William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State; and the President of Salvador, Senor Don Federico Mejia, Envoy Extraordinary and Ministor Pleni potentiary of Salvador to the United States; "Who, after having communicated to each other their respective full powers, found to be in proper form, have agreed upon the following articles: "Article I The high contracting parties agree that all disputes between them, of every nature . whatsoever, which diplomacy shall fail to ad just, shall be submitted for investigation and report to an International Commission, to be con stituted in the manner prescribed in the next succeeding article; and they agree not to de clare war or begin hostilities during such in vestigation and report. "Article II The International Commission shall be composed of five members, to be ap pointed as follows: One member shall be choson from each country, by the government thereof; one member shall be chosen by each government from some third country; the fifth member shall be chosen by common agreement between the two governments. The expenses of the com mission shall be paid by tho two governments in equal proportion. "The International Commission shall be ap pointed within four months after the exchange of the ratifications of this treaty; and vacancies shall bo filled according to tho mannor of tho original nppointmont. "Articlo 111 In caao t.o high contracting parties shall hnvo failed to adjust a dlsputo by diplomatic mothods, thoy shall at once rofor It to tho International Commission for investiga tion and report. Tho International Commis sion may,.howovor, act upon Its own initiative, and In such caso it shall notify both govern ments and request tholr co-operation In tho In vestigation. "Tho report of tho International Commission shall bo completed within ono yoar after tho date on which it shnll declare its investigation to have begun, unless tho high contracting parties shall extend tho tlmo by mutual ngroo mont. Tho report shall bo preparod in tripli cate; one copy shall bo presented to oach gov ernment, and the third retained by tho commis sion for its files. "The high contracting parties rosorvo tho right to act independently on tho subject matter of the dlsputo aftor tho report of tho commis sion shall have been submitted. "Article IV Pending tho investigation and report of the International Commission, tho high contracting patties agree not to increase their military or naval programs, unless danger from a third power should compel such Increase, in which case tho party feeling Itsolf menaced shall confidentially communicate tho fact in writing to tho other contracting party, whoro upon tho latter shall also be released from its obligation to maintain its military and naval status quo. "Article V Tho present treaty shall be rati fied by tho President of tho United States of America, by and with the . dvico and consont of tho Senate thereof; and by tho President of tho Republic of Salvador, with tho approval of tho Congress toreof; and tho ratifications shall bo exchanged as soon as possible. It shall tako effect immediately after tho exchange of ratifi cations, and shall continue in force for a period of five years; and it shall thereafter remain in force until twelve months aftor ono of tho high contracting parties have given notlco to tho other of an Intention to terminate it. "In witness whereof tho respective plenipo tentiaries have signed tho present treaty and have affixed thereunto their seals. "Done in Washington on the so enth day, of August, in tho year of our Lord nineteen hun fred and thirteen. "WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN. "FEDERICO MEJIA." Reform Moves On Tariff reform and currency reform are moving on, slowly but steadily, and with certainty of triumph. The tariff bill as It passed the house was a splendid measure the best that the coun try has seen since the war. It gives more relief to the taxpayers than any previous democratic measure would have given. This, however, is only natural, because tariff bills, like other bills, reflect public sentiment, and public sentiment today is ready for a more radical reduction than would have been possible thirty, twenty, or even ten, years ago. But the senate, instead of emasculating the bill, as previous senates have done, has actually improved it, and, as reported by the finance committee, it is better than when it passed the house. It is difficult to ovor-state the credit which the democratic leaders of the senate de servo for the manner in which differences have been harmonized and the entire party brought to the support of the bill. It is sure now that on final passage not more than two democratic senators will oppose the bill, and it will not be surprising if, when the roil Is called, even the .enators from Louisiana vote "aye" on the theory that, taken as a whole, the bill will bring more benefit to their constituents Vy the reduc i ns made, than free sugar can do harm. While the democrats of the senate and house have done their duty manfully, the president Reserves a large amount of credit for the firm stand he has taken in favor of a reduction that will be substantial and far-reaching in its effect. The country is beginning to realize vrhat it means to have a people's president a champion in tho White House who has the courage to fight their battles for them, and who knows not the word "surrender." The currency bill is not as far advanced as the tariff bill, but it is steadily gaining ground. The measure favored by the president is under consideration in both houses and there is now little doubt of its passage. In fact, it is likely to have a larger majority in both houses than the tariff bill. The tariff measure must rely largely upon democratic votes for it3 success be cause it is more purely a party issie; but party lines u.e likely to be disregarded to some extent in the vote upon the currency que&ticn; the bill will gain more repu' licans than it loses demo crats. Let the readers of The Commoner keep in mind three things: First The bill recognizes the sovereign right of the government to issue money. Second The bill provides that the people, through their governmental agents, shall regu late the issue of the currency provided for. This glvca protection from a selfish use of the regulating power. Third The bill extends to state and national banks alike the help which the federal govern ment offers in ,imes of emergency. If the details of the bill can be regarded as foothills, these three provisions stand out like mountain peaks. If the people can secure the three advantages named above, they can afford to accept any details that a majority of the sen ate and house may write into the bill. A detail can be changed when experience shows It to be unwise, but a change in a fundamental principle is more difficult. The more this bill is studied tho more widespread will bo the feeling that never since tho civil war have tho people in general been so largely considered In tho fram ing of a money measure. And to the president must be tho thanks for having thrown tho tremendous weight of his Influence on the people's side. It Is probablo that the fact that he is an eastern man has enabled him to do more than a western or south ern man could have done under tho same cir cumstances. The Wall street crowd Is not able to excite tho same fear of him that it has suc cessfully endeavored to arouse against those who live beyond the Alleghenles and south of tho Potomac. Let us rejoice that times, conditions and cir cumstances are combining to strengthen tho president In his fight and to offer new hopo to those who have, for so many years, been com bating the influence, open .and secret, of "jtho money power There are other questions which will demand the president's attention when the regular ses sion opens, for his work has just commenced, but with two great victories to his credit, hia prestige will be increased, and that prestige will be used In the people's cause. W. T BRYAN. In view of tho attempt of some of tho sensa tional nt spapers to stir up war between tho United States and any country with which it has a diplomatic controversy, ono recalls tho wise witticism of Mr. Dooley in discussing tho Spanish war. Mr. Hennessey asked him: "Are you go ing to the depot to tiee the soldiers off?" Mr. Dooley replied: "When THOSE WHO GOT UP the war ENLIST I will go to see them off." l fevJMtj MM JK w-. -j vw wei '-.. irt, -.j.