New Britain herald., 1919-09-17

enacted, is scarcely one that is cred itable in the eyes of the public. There is no call for the words that are pass ing. Those of the Senate have been Presidents have thrown their hats into the ring with childish effort to follow in the footsteps of Theodore Roosevelt, one who understood well when to use scathing words-and when not to. Manliness in a fight is appreciated by Americans. Unms- takable words, when properly used, win the plaudits of even those upon the other side of the argument Con- Viction over an issue is admira ble, providing the issue is clearly defined. But the issue here is not evident; therefore, there is no cause for the personalities.
 Senator sherman, yesterday, said that President Wilson is a uuitter. Possibly. But it goes against our grain to hear one member of our gov ernment call the President even a "quitter' That is all there is to that. The senator's fear over a third-term drive on the part of the present in- cumbent is rather amusing when it is coupled with the drive that the Senate is now conducting against him. He has reasons for that fear, but he is creating the issue which will call for President Wilson's running again, as We have pointed out before. If the vote on the Lea que is to be restricted to strictly party affair in 1920, there is but one logical candidate for those who are in favor of the League whether he wins or loses. If the is- sue is settled before 1920, there is no conceivable excuse for the Democrats to nominate President Wilson for q. third term. Surely the senator recog- nizes this.
 Meanwhile, the steps that have been taken by the United States to attempt to ascertain the exact date upon which Japan plans to return the province of Shantung, or the city of Kiauchau, to the Chinese, may bring about an earlier settlement of the question than is now expected. The probabilities are that if Japan ans- Wers promptly, the Treaty, as it ex ists, will be adopted. However, Japan may resent this question as an insin- uatlon that we suspect her faith in the early promises and refuse to answer. If she does not set a date there is little chance for ratification of the Shantung Article, at least If she does answer that the province will be returned upon a definite date, We ratlfy, and then she fails to follow out the promised course, war with Japan will result. And, League or no League, we fear the United States alone will be left to fight this war, as It was the United States that under took settlement of the question. We refuse to adopt mandatories over other nations, and have practically uone so with China. Our national honor will not permit us to receive definite promise and then allow us to see that obligation violated. As soon as we get ready for war. the other nations will have to, whether or no, and the League of Nations Treaty will have been broken just as surely as our failure to endorse it. now means that it will be ignored.
 Taking it all in all, it is a prettv kettle of fish. The confusion is not due entirely to faults in the Lea itself; it is due to the manner of handling it in this country. We are still riding roughshod over the tender feelings of other nations who are iust as hysterical as we are, but who still have been diplomatic enough to refrain from abuse of us.
 WARS AND HIGH PRICES.