Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-08
PRESIDENT REPLIES
TO RESERVATIONS
IN OMAHA SPEECH
If They Are Inserted the
Treaty Must Go Back to
Germany, He Reiterates.
mo ONE CAN TELL HOW
LONG SENATE WILL TAKE"
~. S. Must Join League Now or
Come In Later With Ger
many" He Declares
By the Associated Press.

mduy, nc ueCAd1cS
By the Associated Press.
OMAHA, Neb., September S.-Dis-
cussing for the first time during his
speaking tour proposed reservations
to the league of nations, President
Wilson replied in an address here to-
day to arguments advanced by those
who favor reservations.
"a reservation" said the President.
lis an assent with big but We
agree-'but.'
Want to Sit Near Door.
The proposed reservation providing
for unconditional withdrawal from
membership, said the President. meant
that it's sponsors wanted to sit near
the door, with their hand on the
knob" and if they saw anything they
didn't like, to "scuttle and run"
The league proviso that international
obligations must be fulfilled before
withdrawal never would restrain the
United States, he said, because this
nation always would live up to it's pro-
visions.
Would Be ''Late Joiners."
Those who wanted a reservation to
article X, Mr. Wilson continued. sim
ply didn't want to come in now, but
wanted to be Tate joiners."
Any reservation regarding the Mon
roe doctrine, he added, was unneces-
sary, because the doctrine has been
swallowed hook. line and sinker. by
the peace conference and had been au-
thenticated by the big powers of the
world for the first time.
So far as reservations about domes-
tic questions were concerned, he de-
clared, it would be a work of superb
cation.
1--WE didn't ask Germany's consent
about the meaning of any one OF those
terms when we were in Paris, ne
said.
1--WE told them what they meant and
said sign here Does any patriotic
Americans want that method changed.
aNo! MOI. Cries Heard.
There were cries of mo. no." from
the crowd.
If reservations were put in, Mr..
Wilson told them, all that the Sen
ate had written in would have to go
back for the consent of Germany. He
added that there were indications that
those on the other side of the water
are not in as good humor as they
had been.
The only way the Shantung provi-
sion could be ,bettered, Mr.. Wilson de-
clared, would be to go to war with
Japan, England and France.
He told the crowd the nation could
not 'sign all but a part of treaty"
1--WE cannot rewrite this treaty." said
he. 1--WE must take it or leave it," He
said he believed the treaty should be
accepted soon, but added:
Criticises the Senate.
"But no man can tell how long it
will take the United States Senate to
do anything"
The President said he had heard
some men wanted the United States to
stand alone for an armed pan-Amer-
icanism," but he did not believe the
people would accept 1t. He paid
tribute to Senator Hitchcock, the
democratic leader in the treaty fight,
whose home is in Omaha. He had
been proud to stand by Senator
Hitchcock" he said, in the fight.
President Pays Call.
On the ride before the meeting the
President alighted from his automo-
bile and stopped at the home of c. N.
Dietz, brother of Gould Dietz, presi-
dent of the state league to enforce
peace. The President chatted for a
few minutes with Mr.. Dietz and his
mother.
New Rights for Labor.
Prompt acceptance of the peace
treaty, SO that uncertainties in labor
conditions throughout the world
may be cleared up. was urged by
President Wilson. The international
labor organization to be set up under
the treaty, he said. would give to
labor a new bill of rights.
Mr. Wilson spoke to a crowd of Ne
braskans and Iowans which filled
every corner of the Auditorium, said
to seat $500 persons. He was taken
for an eight-mile automobile ride on
the way to the hall. women of the
party. On the downtown portions of
the ride there were crowds which
cheered the President and in the resi-
Dental sections small crowds had
gathered here and there.
side-Tracked for Rest.
Although the presidential special
had left Des Moines, where the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson had rested over
Sunday, at midnight it was sidetrack-
ed for several hours among the Iowa
cornffelds near Underwood. so that
those on board could complete a full
nights rest. 1t was about o'clock
before the train rolled into Omaha.
The President was introduced by G.
w, Wattles, state president and sec
rotary of the League to- Enforce
Peace. There were cheers when Mr.
Wilson arose to speak. Mrs. Wilson
was on the platform.
Shows Bulky Volume.
Mr.. Wilson said he was happy to
appeal for acceptance Of the treaty,
not as the representative Of a party.
but as the representative of the whole
people. The President showed to the
audience bulky volume. containing
the treaty text. Those who picked
little flaws in it. he declared, had no
conception Of the majesty of the docu-
ment.
Every one who had read the treaty,
declared the President. agreed that it
the matters that led to this war" and
that it contained the machinery by
which they shall stay settled.
The disputed land titles of Europe
had been settled by the treaty. Mr..
Wilson continued. on the basis that in
each case the land belonged to the
people that lived on 1t.
Labor's Charter of Liberty.
The charter of liberty for the
workingmen Of the world" Mr.. Will
son said. never had been dreamed of