Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-09-09
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH


There isn't much enlightenment
about the peace treaty and the leagu
Of nations covenant In the Columbu
speech OF President Wilson, but Their,
certainly Is an impressive array o.
nicely turned phrases-marshal par
graphs that march along with the ever
tread of troops keeping step 10 swell
Ing music that rises In climax, dyinl
away with the measured shuttle Of feet
and re0ccurring i'm anti-climax will
thrilling intensity. The chief executive
says that those who have found fault
with the league Of nations haven't read
IL or don't understand IL. This must
be granted. But II would seem that
the president who had hand In max
ing IL ought 10 understand Il, and II he
does understand IT, ought To explain
IL TO the American people. whom he Is
asking over the heads Of their direct
representatives TO endorse with such
t"hemence that these representatives
win forget what party they belong TO
and their own individual interpreted.
tons and ratify without further ques-
ton.
The president begins with the con.
demnation and punishment Of the Ger
man people. and certainly we must
all agree with him In his statements Of
fact. already quite well known.
Then he says
And, as | have said. this treaty was
not intended merely to end this war
II was intended TO prevent any similar
war"
That's Just where the president and
his opponents part company. for they
reply TO him that II Is an ENHANCING in
strument that will foment trouble and
drag the United States In as a party
10 the covenant. They represent that
Il il against the American principle of
non.interferenee laid down by almost
every great American statemen In the
past and several would-be great ones
IN the present. II doesn't seem nee |
essary for them TO point out why. he
cause the president In his generaliza-
tons does not state why II win not.
The league of nations was promised
10 the American people for fighting the
war, the president says. Well. II that
Is so, a lot of them are certainly unre.
s. nerate ingrates, because they don't
seem to like II at all. His opponents
point out tina. the United Staes Is now
fighing an undeclared and unwelcome
war In Russia as the result OF Interior
enee In the affairs Of other nations IN
compliance with the wishes OF our al
lies and against our own better judg-
n,ent ana interests. Also that the
treaty would keep 10000 Americans on
the Rhine for the next fifteen years.
n sainst their own wishes and In the
Of others. The proposal TO
s.nd troops tn Armenia and to Silesia
has not been denied. Other police jobs q
may Le In secret" contemplation. he q
enemies Of the pact suspect. Bu' I
ticr GLpear? n
The Italian claims In the eastern v
Adriaiie is given great deal Of at {
fentiop-a column approximately. But
where American interests are mt stake II
here, the presidents opponents declare p
they cannot see. The Slavic question q
IN Poland. Bohemia. and the Balkans p
: treated as a part Of this mixture q
II peoples" that worried the peace u
that could not h.
'rawn with exactness and complete {,
rstice The president maintains thst ID
hese boundaries were arrived ut as u
parly as could be without reference Ia ri
.ntrgic advantage to world powers. ID,
acniise Europe under the Utopian rule n
Il the league wouldn't need 10 WORRY Is
bout defending its borders. This the n
DIRECTORS to the treaty OF
ay Is untrue. because the Strategic hi
!, SititnS along the German border bl
rere all peddled TO the enemies Of ina IN
Internationally and freely. But so
Wat has this TO do with American IN
erestsi m
You cont have Ia have me explain IN
ational ambitions 10 you. You have IN
cen brought up on them; you learned ku
lem since you were children and Il Is an
hose national aspirations which we ne
1ught to realize, TO give an outlet TO. tn
| this great treaty" In these words fei
ne president tells why the interests so
the small nations were so conserved Il
lat II would appear that II serves only Ia,
'eir interests. which IL unreasonable on
TO the victor belongs the spoil. And wi
le spOils went To the victOrs-saye he,
NY the United States, who frankly thI
rived no interests OF Its own. II pr,
ould seem, the directors point ont. 10
lat American interests have given tai
ay altogether to international in tie
rests. nm,
The president calls the treaty the :
agna Charta OF labor-for the world fur
Dor. OF course. We have few press hes
( labor problems ourselves. II Is as tina
Tted. but just how the treaty Is TO the
lip American labor. does not appear. the
The beauties Of the treaty are not clio
lly revealed until the president ana
mes TO the latter third Of HIS speech. see
this he draws a picture Utopan in ''sr
2 extreme. that makes England. ten
ance. Italy and Japan appear as He
avenly choir chanting the Christ "
Is carol peace on Earth, good will viii
ward men," II Is a new role for teri
I'm. certainly. for they have been re. and
Dnsible for much OF the blood letting pat
Europe. Asia and Afiica--not to not
nti0n America, which doesn't count. TEN
opponents Of the treaty evince a shr,
sptical attitude as to the success the ing
nrtes viii have In the touching can q
n they are about 10 stage. A few van
OF the president follow: ON
1T Is almost a discovery In inter- the
ional eonventions-'That nations mel