The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-11-22
GERMAN REVOLT JUSTIFIES
COURSE WILSON PURSUED

Washington, Nov. 15.-Just a
month ago the world read taaea dues-
tions addressed by President Wilson
to Germany in answer to her plea for
peace. As they were issued to the
American people, they provoked much
comment, in some cases bitter critl-
cism. They were not understood be-
cause the President was not in po-
sition to take the public into his con-
fidence. Now that an eventful month
has elapsed and the war is over,
little story can be told.
what will be the effect? What do
you hope to accomplish by the in
quiry?" was asked of Mr.. Wilson by
a friend.
"This will bring revolution to Ger
many. Her people are ready to over
throw their present rulers to get
peace"
About the same time that the
above conversation took place this
correspondent sent dispatch from
Washington saying that the President,
d, by his answer to Germany, meant to
test the good faith of the new Social
list government that had come into
power just a few days before, an
event of which the world generally
took little notice, and meant also to
"sow the seeds of social revolution"
Prediction Is Fulfilled
Today the Presidents prediction
has been fulfilled. There was no spe-
cial power of prophecy involved. Mr..
Wilson simply had more information
than the public, and during the last
month he has been more worried over
the prospect of anarchy in Europe
than anything else. He knew that
when the German request for an arm
istice came, Germany was on the
road to collapse and his concern was
how to manage the situation without
forcing Bolshevism on Germany, d.
sease of such contagion, if left UNI
checked, might spread to neighboring
countries.
The world some day will know the
true story of how the President, ac-
cused by his critics of trying to the
gotiate" peace with Germany, accus-
ed of weakening" and accused of
things equally severe by newspapers
and public speakers, deliberately ig-
nored this criticism and acted as he
thought best for the interest of hui
mainly. He sacrificed the good es-
teen of these critics for a short
time, with the conviction that the
events of the future would vindicate
his position.
In this connection, it may be said
that the rumors which persisted about
two weeks ago concerning the abdi-
cation of the kaiser, rumors that were
printed by London newspapers as
coming from Holland and Switzerland,
had some foundation.
Ever since Germany made her first
plea for a cessation of hostilities on
land, on sea and in the air, she has
been trying hard to surrender and
keep some kind of governmental
structure intact for the making of
peace. The President refused to heed
the cries that babe him have nothing
to do with any German government,
that babe him order the armies to
proceed to Berlin and to let the allied
troops go on fighting indefinitely, un-
til Germany was occupied. Mr.. Wilson
felt that wiser course would be to
recognize Germany's desperate effort
to keep herself from anarchy, to as
sist the Socialist Democrats of Ger
many into power, and to render such
cooperation as would prevent Ger
many from becoming another Russia
ruled by the red flag of terror.
u. s. Left Free to Act
Today Washington is celebrating
the great triumph. Today, as prom
Used, the President is informing Con-
gress of what he considers the first
formal steps toward peace-reading
the terms of the armistice to the
Senate and House. All the steps pre-
ceding have been preliminary. The
United States is not committed to
anythink but general principles thus
far. Her freedom Of action is the
same as the freedom Of her co-bel-
ligerents.
The President will appoint, no
doubt, Republicans as well as Demo-
Gratis on the peace commission that
represents the United States. But the
question of a peace conference and
the details of the settlement are,
comparatively speaking, not of inn
mediate concern. 1t probably will
require two or three months to get
ready for peace conference. But |
what is pressing and urgent is the
dangerous spread of anarchy in Eu-
rope. Americas answer to that will
be food and clothing for the starved
peoples of Europe.
Even before the public was aware
of the revolts which began at Kiel
and spread to other parts of Germany,
the President discussed with Herbert
Hoover what might be done to pre-
vent food famine and Bolshevism,