The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-08
CAN MR.. WILSON DO IT?

| ton His mastery of chaste English.
appear as statements facts, his deductions from
such assumptions. and his ability to paint word
picture of idealism in the colors of the rainbow
qualities which his adversares fear ana MS
supporters admire Addresses of that kind always
/, create a wave enthusiasm but invariably are
| followed by wave of reaction when the flowers
takes 'i the place of mpassioned hyperboe
magnetism of the speaker loses its potency when
sure them by the yardstck of facts. The presi.
dent had a marked experience in the reaction of
public enthusiasm after his addresses in Europe
He may experience the same results in his appeal
to the people of his own country. 1t may be
repetition his appeal for the election of demo-
cratic congress in the last election-Sioux City
Journal
Certain clauses Of the covenant are obscure
and capable of various interpretations, al
though this is not admitted by Mr.. Wilson.
There is no agreement among leveIheaded
statesmen as to what they mean, nor can there
be until cases arise and are settled by league
vote. AS nobody, including the president,
knows how they will be settled, nobody can say
what obligations the covenant imposes on us.
We are thus asked to undertake responsibilities
of undiscoverable extent, and this is one OF the
very reasonable objections OF senators to the
covenant as it stands. A majority OF the league
of nations can so interpret It's provisions as TO
cause acute resentment bitter indignation IN
America. They might even put constructions
would never agree In that event we should
defy the league and earn the reputation OF ma
tonal breaker of faith.
It is within the capacities of human language
Ito make it precisely clear to what America con-
sents There are senators who insist on dong
this, believing that only thus can alterations
be prevented which would disrupt the league
If not provoke new wars. Their position is I'M
assailablv sound What businessman would
willingly bind himself to a contract which his
partners could construe to his disadvantage
What prudent man would not insist on knowing
lust what obligations he assumed? There Will
be more intrigue, more log-roll1ng and secret
pulling and hauling in the league than IN any
other body ever organized by man. Combina-
tons of states could ''put anything over u.s.
they saw fit, and everybody knows that certain
European powers could command majority OF
the delegates on any matter on which they were
agreed. Do the people want this? Can the
president in his series Of cross-country talks
so present it to them that they will prefer
league which nobody understands to league
which makes our duties rights and obligations
clear?
!! It is undeniable that such nations as have
agreed to accept the league protected their own
interests under it before they consented to come
In Great Britain blue penciled out of the COW
enant all reference to the freedom OF the seas
and demanded six votes to one of any other
power France insisted on the Saar basin and
certain other things and a tripartte alliance
for her protection before she would consider
Joining the league. Japan demanded and OBJ
tanned what she desired before she would think
of entering The president and Secretary Ian
sing both admit this 1t is not yet clear what
Italy will do Thus far her demands have not
been fully met. Germany expects to come into
the league as en- equal partner and will be free
to reopen any question the treatyis supposed to
have settled AS for Russia, she is left out en-
tirely of an arrangement which is designed to
promote peace and good will on earth. Thus
all the important powers of earth safeguarded
their interests under the league before they
would have anything to do with it. Can the
president satisfactorily explain why the United
States should be the only great nation to take
the league without safeguarding its own inter
ests and without even knowing what certain
clauses of it mean? This is the task the presi-
dent has undertaken and it's achievement would
tax the powers of greater man.
Too many bathtubs, safety razors and cakes
of soap in this country to make possible big
crop of red anarchy.