Show The McSwain Bill P PASSAGE PASSAGE by the house Tuesday of the McA McSwain McSwain Mc- Mc A Swain antiwar act may be taken to mean that by what was an almost unanimous vote the congressmen enacted a futile law lav which is isan isan isan an expression of the sentiments of all allbut allbut allbut but a handful of the total population of the United States If the senate now passes the measure or both houses vote for a conference compromise between the McSwain and the Nye bills which are almost identical these sentiments sentiments senti senti- ments will be spread upon the federal statutes By this action of the national legislature we the people will wilt be on record as solemnly opposed to engaging in war unless we are in invaded invaded invaded in- in by a foreign enemy and to war profiteer profiteer- ing As an actual assurance that we shall shaH never engage in an offensive war that we shall not conscript the manpower for an army and that the profit has been taken out of war this legislation legis legis- lation is more important and significant than thana a resolution adopted by a luncheon club club but but not much If at any time the nation may fall victim to towar towar towar war hysteria it will be possible by a simple majority vote in both houses of congress to repeal the Nye McSwain-Nye act and be right back I where we were before it even was thought of The he history of emergency legislation passed with record speed at the request of President Wilson in 1917 is all that is needed to establish this Until then the United States had not had conscription con can since the civil war Overnight German fried potatoes became Liberty potatoes A lot of things happened that had never happened be be- be tore sore They can all happen again I That is why we say the action by the house Is futile It can be undone in the twinkling of an e eye re But nevertheless a wholesome thing has been done There is no paradox to confuse any any- one It is good for this country and for the world to know what American sentiment toward war is The vote in the house is ab about ut the truest reflection of the national mind one could ask for It is expressive of the beliefs and hopes of a a. a people of pacific temper It is the logical out outcome ome of the congre congressional munitions inquiry This has been of vast informative value to the nation Memory of some of the facts elicited by this investigation will make it more difficult to convince Americans of the I existence of ot a casus I belli than has been the ca case e before It may cause congress in the future to weigh matters with more deliberation It may make the task of spellbinders and jingoes much more difficult when they try to sell America its next war It may encourage c congress to pass laws as needed to insure absolute neutrality in the event of a future war warin in which we have no stake Legislation such as this is no not wasted effort Largely however its effect is purely psycho psycho- psycho psycho-I logical It is not insurance against war or any I of its hideousness No one should be deluded into believing the contrary |