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Show VfAR referendums. "t hope they will make an arrangement arrange-ment by which the enemy will do no shooting until the vote is taken,'' said Senator, Pomerene satirically as he commented com-mented upon the proposal of American pacifists to take a referendum on the question of going to war. Perhaps the pacifists might persuade the Germans not to sink any of our ships or kill any of our men, women and children while the referendum was in progress. It would be good politics, good generalship, if the Germans refrained. re-frained. After the referendum they could kill as many Americans as they pleaded. The pacifists have made a mistake as to the country in which the referendum is needed. They should hold their referendum ref-erendum in Germany. It is in Germany that the question of war or peace will be decided. The absurdity of a rerondu-n is manifest. A vote taken today would have no bearing on the situation a month or even a week hence. It would be ridiculous ridicu-lous to have a referendum now on the question of whether war should be declared de-clared in the present circumstances. There is no necessity for war at this time. A week from now the necessity may arise and, if it does, there will be no time for a referendum. It is more than likely that the war in Europe was due in a large measure to the fact that the people had little control over their governments. After the war they probably will insist upon greater popular control of the government. govern-ment. That is entirely proper and just. That is the way to make peaceful conditions con-ditions more permanent. But in case of a sudden attack by one nation upon another there will be. no time in which to hold a referendum in the countrv attacked. at-tacked. . " ; The United States has remained out of war thus far because a peaceful people peo-ple have hail control over their government. govern-ment. But even a peacefully-inclined people must go to war in nel f-ilefense. A referendum will not stop bullets and torpedoes. |