South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-04
LEAGUE ISSUE
NOW SQUARELY
Up To PEOPLE
Question of World 0rganiza-
ton to Preserve Peace
May be Issue in Next
Presidential Election.
BY ROBERT }. BENDER.

BY United Press:
WASHINGTON. March 4.-Prest
Wilson left Washington at . o'clock
his afternoon, prepared for show
down before the people on his
fight with senate republicans.
There viii be no change in his
plans 20 return ia France on
schedule and ne has not relaxed his
determination 90 call no extra ses-
sion of congress now. it was stated
officially.
The challenge set up 10y senate re-
publicaas on his league of nations
covenant the president is confident.
VIII DE accepted back home" and
the people. he believes viii demand
It's ratification when the time comes
Issue Clearly Drawn.
The president regards the issue
on the league OF nations as clearly
drawn along this line
League and peace, or no league
and inevitable war resulting from
competitive armamcnts.
He remarked not long aso 10
some friends that when great com
pctitive navies and armies are
maintained they cannot Doe kept idle
foreSer
And the immediate result OF such
armies and navies. his advisers point
out. is & heavy and constantly main
tanned tax burden. of which the peo-
pie now are getting a taste as re-
suit OF tho great war.
That the president Will pursue this
thought i'm his appeal 10 the people
in New York tonight was intimated
by his advisers today
Fate i'm Hands of People.
The fate OF the league rests now
in the hands of the rank and file OF
the American people. ON their deci-
sion. when it is finally taken up. viii
depend also whether William How
ard Taft and those republicans out
of congress who favor the present
league document viii control the re-
publican party I'm 1920 or whether
lodge and his colleagues i'm the sem
ate will be IN the saddle when cam
paign year rolls around
IL was stated 10y republicans n
The senate today that the idea Of
lpproachiug democratic salons for
signatures on the Lodge resolution
was abandoned primarily because
the repubIicaus wished To make the
league document a party issue add
-o before the country i'm an aggres-
siye campaign. stalking everything 'u
the peoples decision.
the presidents friends say this Is
agreeable 10 him and they believe
that N necessary he may even stand
for reelection in 1929 with the
iaarue covenant as the issue.
Expect Reply Tonight.
What he viii do now directly IN
replv to~the resolution and signed
document presented hy Sen. Lodge
WAS the subject of much conjecture
todev He is reported extremely Dit
Tor about the action Of the repu'-
rt.sn leader. believing % may have
~.rfous erect abroad That the pres
1.,t v-.1f counter with a strong reply
whom . speaks. together with ior-
ner Prest Taft I'm New York TO-
rtgbt Is accepted as certain To will
H.. his last appeal To the Americans
from his own shores before MS re-
rrn for the peace conference.
Tho president expected to 20 tl
tra capitol az II o'clock today and
remain until the adjournment ''
,.rrress 20 sign the bills passed m
fhc closing hours. His special tral'
Fl. New York Is scheduled TO arrive
there at Sis O'Clock tonisht- From
tbe train the president goes direc
ro tbe Metropolitan opera house e
.pesk. just before leaving the opera
house the president viii meet dele
.,tio, of Irish leaders who want him
ta slppart irish claims at the peace
conference