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Show is possible that some of our own rights, privileges and interests might be bartered bar-tered away in the same manner. These things cannot possibly occur if ail the people of the country keep tab on the proceedings in the senate and everywhere ev-erywhere else when we have something at stake. Upon the whole we think that it would be well to give "pitiless publicity" a trial all over the world, but it never will be brought about unless un-less the United States points the way. Let us have the moral strength and courage to tell the truth however unpalatable unpal-atable it may be and in the course of time there will be less evil in the world on account of the fact that it cannot be covered up and kept from the knowledge knowl-edge of the rank and file, who pay the taxes and fight the battles. EVILS OF SECRECY. Senator Knox of Pennsylvania is an advocate of secret diplomacy, not exactly ex-actly the kind of secret diplomacy that has hitherto prevailed in the old world, where treaties actually consummated are kept secret, but the kind of secrecy peculiar to the United States, where treaties are discussed in executive sessions ses-sions of the senate. In the opinion of Senator Knox, "negotiations of treaties trea-ties in public is impracticable; that statements mado in open discussion of treaties might prejudice the nation's interest." in-terest." Senator Knox is a former secretary of state ami is, of course, experienced. Senator Lodge, who joined the Pcnnsyl-vanian Pcnnsyl-vanian in his fight against the Borah amendment to the Underwood resolution, resolu-tion, is the ranking Republican member mem-ber of tho foreign relations committee and is more or less of an authority on such questions. The opinion of Chairman Chair-man Hitchcock, who also opposes the amendment, has no value because he has been on tho off-side of nearly everything ev-erything that has been done or attempted attempt-ed to be done sinco tho present congress came Into existence. Senator Borah, author of the amendment amend-ment to abolish star chamber proceed- ings in tho senate, insists that the peace treaty to end the world war must be mado with all tho people of all the nations concerned having full information informa-tion and giving their approval to the terms, a proposition in which any number num-ber of people will concur, for there must bo no private understandings between nations after tho bloodiest war of all time has been fought, not only to thwart the kaiser in his effort at universal domination, but to bring about a peace that will be lasting. The treaty calculated cal-culated to bring about such a condition must bo dobated, signed, sealed and delivered de-livered in the open, according to the view of the Idaho statesman, and we dare say the influence of the United States will be exerted to that end. Not long ago Senator Lodge insisted that the tjuth be told when referring to the delay in war preparations and there was an echo in many quarters, the claim being be-ing made that all the facts should be stated, "so the people may know." Wo believe tho Massachusetts senator was right, for "truth is mighty and will prevail" whether it be told in the senate or elsewhere. It may happen that if the veil of secrecy se-crecy is lifted by the senate and "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth" told at all times, the people of the country will quite frequently be surprised, shocked, grieved or even angry. an-gry. But their knowledge of the facts at all times will enable them to correct cor-rect existing evils and take measures to prevent their recurrence. One of the main objections to secret sessions is that the truth is not always told and that votes are not always cast for the glory, honor and best interests of the republic, but for political reasons or to gratify the personal spite of some of the senators. If the sessions were open and tho words spoken sent out over the wires, these facts would become so apparent ap-parent to tho people of the country that the senators who have something else besides the welfare of the nation to look after and are not inspired by the highest ideals would be held up to public pub-lic scorn and contempt. So it is more than probable that in the course of time discussion of treaties and nominations would be more elevated in tone and certainly cer-tainly more honest in purpose. It is being urged that the Brest-Li-tovsk treaty was executed in the open and that Russia is prostrate as a result. The argument is very weak. The result would have been the same if the treaty had been negotiated in secret and in any case the so-called open discussion failed to put the people of Russia on their guard owing to the fact that news is not generally disseminated in that country. It might also be stated that Russia was practically prostrated before the negotiations at Brest-Litovsk began. Finally, the people of the United States cannot be placed in the same category with the Bussians even for the purposes of argument. No Brest-Litovsk treaty could be imposed upon the free citizens of the United States, and such discussions discus-sions as were had between the representatives repre-sentatives of the central powers and the Bolshevik chiefs would result in uprisings up-risings all over the land and a general march upon Washington. "VVe might suffer suf-fer harm if such a convention were to he discussed and executed in secret, but it would not be allowed to stand even then. There are many people who do not believe that the present war will result in bringing peace to the world, and it may be that before the end conies a cry will be raised that the United States should be reimbursed in some way for its expenditure of blood and treasure in order "to make the world safe for democracy." Those who hold such views know full well that we could not do such a thing in the open after the solemn protestations we have made regarding our entrance into the war. But we might be able to make material gains by secret understandings with some of the nations regarding the carrying out of the peace treaty. Such matters could not be discussed in public, pub-lic, but they might be used in a secret session of the senate, although it is not to be supposed all the senators would be let in on the scheme. Also it |