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. JANARYs 4921
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Boiah ori Redlict
of Armaments
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On another page will be found Senator Borah's
resolution- looking toward the reduction of
navies by the United States, Great Brita'n and
Japan It is sound in principle and well worded;
it shouId.be adopted at -once. If congress will
suggest such a conference the President will
doubtlesd concur and extend the invitation im
mediately. His recent refusal to.-send delegates
to the League conference on disarmament was
based solely on the fact that we are not mem
bers of the League . It did not indicate any per
sonal objection to disarmament: on the contrary,
ho is known to favor disarmament, as every one
must who is interested in world peace. "
The demand for reduction is imperative: de
lay is dangerous. The leading nations are in
creasing their appropriations for both army .and
navy. This is especially true in Great Britain,
Franca, Japan and the United States. In this
country the army cost 99 millions in 19X4 (before
the war) and the navy .140 millions. This year
the army costs 419 millions and the navy 437
millions. But this increase in six years, i-ctourid-ing
as it is, is surpassed by the estimates for next
year which call for 814 millions for the army
and 69? millions for the navy. Rivalry, if con
tinued, would mean the absolute bankruptcy of
the nations participating. But it can not con
tinue. It will be stopped in Europe by revolu
tion if not by legislation: in this country it will
be stopped by the common sense of the people
acting through congress. Senator Borah is right
and ought to have the unanimous support of the ,
Senate and House, regardless of party. Dis
armament will doubtless be a part of the plan
of the association of nations as it was of the
league of nations: we can not begin disarmament
too soon. W. J. BRYAN.
LET THE MAJORITY RATIFY
Congressman Ayres of the Wichita (Kas.) dis
trict has introduced the following resolution:
JOINT RESOLUTION
. Proposing an amendment to the Constitution
providing a majority of the United States Senate
may ratify a treaty. -
ResolVed by the Senate and House of Repre
sentatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled two-thirds of each House
concurring therein), That the following article
is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution,
Which shall be valid to all intents and purposes
as part of the Constitution when ratlfed by the
legislatures of three-fourths of the several
States.
"ARTICLE .
"That the president, shall have power, by arfd
with the1 advice and consent of the 'Senate,; to
make treaties, provided a majority of -the Sena
tors present" concur." ' ,.'
It should be submitted at once and ratified.
Mr. Ayres has attacked the REAL cause of the
delay that has kept us out of the Lerigue.
let us hope
The Columbus Citizen says: -
"Pre-war prices for" lard! and meats of. all
kinds were quoted to the board of administration
Tuesday for the January supply for state insti
tutions. Lard was quoted at 13 cents, a decline
of 6 cents a pound over the December price's,
hUms were C cents cheaper, being quoted at 21
cents; bacon-at 20 cents was 4 cents' a pound
lower, and dressed beef at $10.37 a hundred
pounds was 2 cents cheaper? The new prices
mean a saving of several thousand dollars to the
state."
Now that the farmer is SELLING his meat at
pre-war prices let us hope that he may be .able
to BUY what he needs at pre-war rates.
OHIQ'S PROGRESSIVA DRY. RECORD
1914 Wet Majority -. 84vl52
1915 Wet Majority ...-...., 55,408
1917 Wet Majority. . .Svl ; . '..' . i ,137
1918 Dry Majority . . . . .... 25,759
14)19 Dry Majority 41,853
1920 Dry Majority. , ... t . . .290,141
It seems to be generally agreed that the mil
lenium will have arrived,; when the jetailersuwlfo
r marked u& their ;go,ods, as- the-markets roso-wili
set cheerjCuily about marking thenadown asj,the
market falls but it should be added that there
re no signs that the mlllenium is close at hand,
HARDING AND BRYAN IN CONSULTATION
What an anomaly William Jennings Bryan has
become in American politics, or, for that matter,
in world politics; what a unique figure. Who
has been so often or so repeatedly rejected from
a partisan standpoint? Who has found it so
difficult to gain office by election? Yet who has
more distinctly stamped his personality on the
drift of events?
It has been said of several Americans that
they were too great for the presidency. , It may
be too early for that to be said of Bryan, yet
it would not be surprising to find him ranked
with Webster, Calhoun and Clay,. in this particu
lar, at some future day.
Since his appearance on the national stage in
1896 he has fathered many reforms. Most of
them have found a more or less definite expres
sion in our political vievs.
Scarcely one but what was received with
smiles, if not ridicule, at the outsot, yet how
many of the Bryan suggestions are we not fol
lowing out right now?
Under such circumstances, is it surprising that
he, should, be called into consultation by the Re
publican president-elect, especially on a matter
he is so earnestly interested in, and on which
he is well qualified to speak, as world peace?
How well many remember his arbitration
treaties when they wore first announced. What
a makeshift they seemed. But we were all tense
and rigid then, preferring inflexible things, be
cause of the influence of a great tragedy in the
making.
As the war developed, we grew more tense
and rigid, more in favor of ironuounl methods,
more amenable to arbitrary, unbending super
vision. Emerging from the gigantic struggle, wo
looked with enthusiasm on the hard and brittle.
covenant presented for our consideration, We
wanted not only a peace pact, but such a pact as
no nation could possibly overstep.
In this mood, Bryan's arbitration treaties
seamed more tenuous, more impotent than ever,
and the thought of what they might have ac
complished, or what they might still accomplish,
was quietly .forgotten.
4 Now, however, it suddenly conies to the sur
face again, and with redQublod force. Even Mr.
Root says he. is not-sure but that-it offers. the
safest foundation on which to build, and-PresI-dent-Elect
Harding is so impressed that he
wishes to get the whole Idea from the lips of
Bryan himself.
None of us can foretell the outcome of all this
controversy dver the best method by which to
inaugurate a permanent movement for world
peace. There is. a mighty jangling of opinions,
and ,a mightier web of cross purposes to be
cleared away.
4 3ut, and this is the point we started out to
niake, it is a paradox of paradoxes that Mr.
Bryan should be, sitting among national coun
sellors again, especially with the Republicans in
power. Houston, Texas. Chroafclp,
CELEBRATE JANUARY 16, 4021
The suggestion has been made that inasmuch
as January 16, the anniversary of Constitutional
Prohibition, falls on Sunday this year, the
churches of the nation should observe the event
with appropriate ceremony. American Issue
commends the idea.
It should.be an occasion not only of rejoicing
'over the success achieved, a- success bought
with years of sacrifice and labor, but should
also be a time for reconsecration to the un
finished task of completely annihilating the
beverage liquor .traffic.
No more worthy work can be undertaken by
Christian citizens than that of thoroughly es
tablishing prohibition in Amrica through leg
islation, law enforcement and education.
. If one service on January 16, 1921, of every
church be given to a celebration of the Consti
tutional Prohibition anniversary, making law
enforcement the keynote, a law enforcement
sentiment will be created ' that will be of in
estimable value throughout the year.
'it will be a profitable and appropriate way
to, .launch the second year's drive against the
outlawed liquor traffic. American Issue,
DR. ANNA SHAW
"She cut a path through tangted underwood
Of old traditions out to broader ways.
She lived to hear her work called brave and
, , - good,
.But. oh! TJie thorns before the crown of bays.
TJie jvorld ;gves lashes to its pioneers..
Until the goal is reached than, deafening
cheers." , '
The Allies Debt
to Us
The Allies are proposing that their short tlmo
obligations to us (amounting to nearly ten. .bil
lions) be funded by the Issue of-, long tersm
bonds. This was to be expected, but whyvjaot
use the debt to purchase world disarmament?
The dobt will never bo paid and the longer It
stands the more irritation it will cause. Its ex
istence will be a continuing excuse for longer
indemnity demands demands which will create
conditions that will delay if not prevent -world
disarmament. The sooner the debt is settled the
better. If we collect the entire dobt it wJU not
equal the amount wo will spend on the armyand
navy during the period required for Its collec
tion; If wo can secure world "disarmament now
wo shall soon save enough to reimburse us. for
the loss.
It is not proposed to present the debt .to the
Allies as a gift; it should be cancelled ON CON
DITION that the torms of the treaty shail. bo so
revised as to establish a real peace a peace
resting on friendship and cooperation- one that
will permit world disarmament.
W. J. BRYAN. . .
WAR REFERENDUM FOR ALL PEOPLES,
MARION PROPOSAL
Robert T. Small in his special correspondence
from Marion, Ohio, to the Washington Star, un
der date of December 14, says: New interest in
the coming of William Jennings Bryan to
Marlon on Friday has been lent by a statement
from Col. George Harvey, house guest of Senator
and Mrs. Harding, that he and the President
elect have been discussing seriously the last few
days the feasibility of the United States standing
as sponsor for an association of peoples who
shall pledge their respective governments for all
time never to engage in offensive warfare untfl
the question has been submitted to, and decided
by, the people themselves.
This Idea of a war referendum has been close
to- Mr. Bryan's heart for a long time. He
espoused it with particular passion at the Jack
son day dinners in Washington last January. He
declared it was the people who suffered In time
of war and he felt they should be consulted be
fore the making of war was begun. This would
not mean a vote of the people in the event of an
invasion or an unwarranted attack by another
power. The temper of the people in such cir
cumstances would need no referendum to give it
self expression.
Comparatively little attention was paid to Mr.
Bryan's suggestion at the time it was maae
but now support for his plan has come from an
unexpected quarter. Col. Harvey, who has been
spending several days at the Harding home on
Mount Vernon avenue, has announced the chief
topic of conversation between him and the President-elect
has been a proposal which he charac
terized as "dwarfing all pervious propositions de
signed to perpetuate peace and to democratize
the world."
So far as I can recall it, Mr. Bryan's plan for
a referendum of the people before a declaration
of war was to apply to the United States. alone.
Col. Harvey would have an association of nations
agree to such a plan, with the United States, .all
powerful in world affairs, standing as the spon
sor for the entire organization.
Senator Harding himself has declined to dis
cuss the matter, but Col. Harvey, while disclaim
ing any authority to speak for him, personally
espoused the belief that a practicable plan could
be devised through friendly consultation and
helpful co-operation with other nations.
On the 1st of January Charles W. Bryan
printed in the Nebraska State Journal a .state
ment, duly authenticated and in plain language,
that the retail coal dealers of Lincoln were prof
iteering to the extent of at least $5 a ton v on
Illinois soft coal. He showed where the city ot
Omaha, operating a municipal coal yard, was
selling for $9,50 what the dealers of Lincoln
were asking $14 and $15 a ton, and asked what
explanation the dealers had tc malce of this, and
why the city government of Lincoln did not fol
low the example of Omaha. As showing how
bold and defiant business and business adminis
trations are, neither the dealers nor the mayor
had made any reply wher. this paragraph, was
written, days afterwards.
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