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Show DM APPEALS TO CfliGflESS II PEACEJFFORT Would Apply His Treaty Plan in Effort to End German U-boat Warfare. REFERENDUM URGED ON WAR QUESTION Suggests Justice of Consulting Consult-ing People of the Na-tion Na-tion Before Resorting to Hostilities. MIAMI. fia.. March 20. William J. Brvae io'a y adil reswecl a n appeal to the senate and house of representatives urging urg-ing that an a i tempt be made to secure the suspension of Germany's ruthless subma rine rampaiKn through the appli-' iation of the so-called Bryan peace plan, which provides for an investigation of all disputes by an international tribunal before be-fore resort to war. Mr. Bryan asked that congress also consult the wishes of the people through a referendum if it concludes that nothing noth-ing hut war will satisfy the national honor. Mr. Bryan's appeal to congress follows: Exercising the citizen's right of petition. I appeal to you. The dispute with Germany lias raised beyond the domain of diplomacy and some advise ad-vise settlement hv the sword. 1 1 nietrnnolitan press, which tried to prevent the re-election of the president presi-dent and failed, undismayed u a popular verdict of more than one-half one-half million, now seeks to lasn ine counlrv into a fury and iirKes the government to take part In tne European Eu-ropean conflict. Says Means Death Warrant. To vou. and to you only, is Riven constitutional authority to declare war war which in this case may mean the sifrnim-' of 'he death warrant war-rant of thousands, even millions, of vour countrcmen and the laying of rrievous burdens upon future generations genera-tions Before you take this blood upon vour hands, consider. I pray vou first that the wrongs which you would punish, cruel and unjustifiable as thev are, are not intended primarily primar-ily against this country, but are acts of desperation directed against other nations with which the offenders are at war. Second, that our land is not threatened with invasion, but that we are asked to go three thousand inilea for a chance to fight. Third, that we have not the excuse for going to war that the Europeans have. They had no machinery for peace. We have a peace plan offered by this nation to the world and now embodied in thirtv treaties with three-quarters of the population of the globe. The plan has the indorsement of the president the commendation of the senate and the approval of the people at the polls II provides for investigation of all disputes by an international tribunal before resort to war. Fortunately, those I realies compel us tu employ the plan with Ureat Britain. France, Italy and Russia before be-fore poins to war with them. Germany Ger-many formally approved the plan, although al-though no trea ty has yet been concluded con-cluded with her. Shall we repudiate our nwn plan the first time we have 1 hi. opportunity to employ it? if. ns the president recently declared, the American peaple do not want war, is . it not worth while to try the peace plan before brinpim; upon the people the horrors of war? Until a n at -tempt Is made and fails, no one is able to say that it would bo impossible impos-sible to secure the suspension of "ruthless" suhmn rine warfare d urine ur-ine the investigation for which the plan provides. Shall we deny to ourselves our-selves the credit of trying to settle the dispute with the treaty plan?. And is it ini worth while to do our part in tryins to avoid injury? Would It not be bet ter as well .as cheaper for the government to carry on its own vessels such A mericans as must go to Europe rather than engage in war to vindica te the right of citizens to disregard all risks and ride upon belligerent slip.? Appeals for Referendum. Is it not worth while to separate pa ssen pe rs from con t ra band oa rgoes so the captains of passenger ships can give their entire attention to the safety of pa ssongers? Our nation iff the world's foremost advocate of peace. Tf we go to war it should he for a cause which historv will inslifv. If yon reach the conclusion that not h ing but war wilt sa iisfy the national na-tional honor, it it too much to ask that by a referendum you consult the wishes of those who must, in case of war, defend the nation's honor with their lives? As one who expects (o Ihe up to a citizen's duties. If war conips.- I plead with you to use All honorable means to preserve peace before you take the responsibility of plunging our beloved land into this unprecedented struggle, be? tin without any sufficient suffi-cient cause and conducted by both sides in utter disregard of the well-. well-. settled rights of neutrals. |
