Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-11
CLEARS MINDS
OF PEOPLE ON
TREATY POINTS
Presidents Assurances
Strengthen Support of
Northwest.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

ROJdS an impression OF MS arSu-
ment for the League of Nations
that had never gained currency in
this region before. Thousands of
persons heard him speak but null
titudes read the columns upon col
umns of publicity gtTen to his
speeches by the newspapers of this
section without regard to party.
The president made a simple
presentation of his case to the
farmers as well as city folk who
depend indirectly upon the export
market for their livelihood. He
got an enthusiastic response. The
street crowds in the forenoon at
St. Paul were small and somewhat
chilly but the evening meeting and
the street demonstration after
wards rivaled anything the presi-
dent has gotten in his whole ca
reer. Ten thousand people jammed
the st. Paul auditorium and with
the kind of applause that seems to
shake the building itself .cheered
again and again in approval as Ge
asked whether he had represented
the people of America at Paris and
whether they wanted the covenant
adopted by the senate.
DakOtas With Him.
Not so demonstrative were the
North Dakota audiences, but min
Cling in the crowds afterwards, 1
heard on every side warm express
siOns in approval as well as won
der that the covenant had a posi-
tive as well as a negative side; that
it was really aimed to preserve
peace and not to entangle America
in war. 1t is true that sentiment
the league had been stirred
up in many quarters here on that
theory that America would be con-
stantly dragged into armed con-
flict. The presidents explanation
of the workings of article 10, show
ing that the United States could
not be obliged to use arms against
her will in any case because a
unanimous vote was required in
the council of the League of Ma
tions, was exactly what the folks
here wanted to learn about first
hand. And the presidents picture
of the way the United States is
economically entangled in the
worlds affairs and his prediction
that America would be financially
ruined if Europe went bankrupt
and could not pay for her pur-
chases in the American market
struck home.
RapS BOlsheVism.
This is the territory of the Nom
Partisan league and Governor Fra
ser, who may be the leagues presi-
Dental candidate, presided at the
Wilson meeting. Mr.. Wilson didn't
mince words in his description of
the horrors of bolshevism and his
of any protests that
would lead to public disorder.
Those who have been thinking the
Non-Partisan league exhibits in
of eventual bolshevism
were of course pleased and those |
inside the Non-Partisan league who j
don't believe their program has |
in common with the so !
Wet of Russia. were of course not !
disturbed by the reference. On the |
other hand it is noticeable in all /
the presidents recent speeches that !
he fears boIshevism may even |
spread elsewhere if the peace is !
long delayed and if the processes !
Of economic disintegratiOn are slim |
llated by uncertainty and prolong |
I'd doubt as to the part which |
America may play in worlds af-
'airs.
Delay Injures All.
The president dramatically eX-
claimed at Bismarck that the de- /
ay in ratifying the treaty was in
turing the whole world and our
selves" He tried to disillusion his
hearers Of the notion that the war
s over. because fighting has ceased.
He professed perplexity over the
of the senate. He claims
o have secured the adoption at
Paris of all the suggestions made
" the senate foreign relations
committee in March by which he
means of course that the various
opics on which reservations are
low sought by some Republican
senator's are fully covered in the
anguage used in the treaty and he
lsks his audiences to believe that
europe meant no trick and that
anguage is language the world
,ver and that the meaning of the
French as well as English text is
To be sure, the
resident is stirring up renewed in
crest in the treaty and league
)nly vague and intangible ideas Of
What the fuss in the senate is all
bout have prevailed here.
Special trains came from all
arts of North Dakota carrying
armers who wanted to hear Mr.
wilson. Bismarck. which has only
900 population. seemed crowded.
Iotor cars from nearby farms and
illages jammed the thorough
ares. And the newspaper printed
4 display type every word of the
residents speech.
Gets the Publicity.
There is no question about the
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