The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-09-18
AMERICAS PLEDGE
SACRED WILSON
PRESIDENT SAYS OUR PROMISE
TO TRY TO PREVENT FUTURE
WARS SHOULD BE KEPT.
ONLY HOPE IS IN WORLD LEAGUE
Says Germany Would Not Have 0arod
to Strike II Nations Had Been
Banded Against Aggression.
CBy Mt. Clemens News Bureau)


(By Mt. Clemens News Bureau)
st. Louis-Displaying q high con-
ddence that his fellow citizens in the
great majority agree with him In his
desire to end war forever. and that
the peace treaty with its League of
Nations inclusion Is ratified by the
senate, President Wilson Is making a
successful way across the country on
the long Journey he has undertaken
for the purpose of laying before the
plain people report Of his work in
Paris and explaining to them inst
what the League means.
Thus far in his travels he has every
where met with warm greetings, both
in the great halls where he has
spoken formally and in the little cross
road hamlets where his train has
halted at times and he has exchanged
words with the villagers who pressed
forward to greet him. He feels, and
does not hesitate to say so when
chatting with his travelling compan
ions, that the American people want
no more Of war. and want to become
part of the League so that there may
be no more war. He struck his Key
note when he said in his first address,
in Columbus, Ohio:
'"This treaty was not intended mere
ly to end this single war. It is meant
as a notice to every government who
in the future will attempt this thing
| (what Germany attempted) that man
kind will unite to inflict the same pun
ishment. There is no national
triumph to be recorded In this treaty.
There is no glory sought for any par
ticular nation The thought OF the
statesmen COLLECTED around that table
was of their people, Of the sufermgs
they had gone through, of the losses
they had incurred, of that great throb-
bling heart which was so depressed
so forlorn, so sad in every memory 1t
had Of the five tragicl years that
have gone by. Let US never forget
those years, my fellow countrymen;
| let US never forget the purpose, high
and disinterested, with which America
lent it's strength, not for its own glory
but for the defense of mankind.
LAS I said, this treaty was MOI
meant merely to end this war. 1t is
intended to prevent any similar war
I wonder if some OF the opponents OF
the League of Nations have forgotten
the promises we made our people be-
fore we went to that peace table? we
had taken by process of law the
flower of our youth from every coun-
tryside, from every household, and we
told those mothers and fathers ana
sisters and wives and sWeethearts
that we were taking those men 70
fight a war which would end business
of that sort, and if we do not end II,
| if we do not do the best that human
concert of action can do to end 1t, we
are Of all men the most unfa1thfu0
the most unfaithful to the loving
hearts who suffered in this war, the
most unfaithful to those households
bowed in grief and yet lifted with the
feeling that the lad laid down his LIE
for a great thing, and, among other
things. in order that other lads mgh
never have to do the same thing.
.That is what the League OF Ma
lions is for-to end this war justly
and then not merely to serve nothce
IN governments which could contem-
Mate that they will do so at their peril,
but also concerning the combination
of mower which will prove to them
that they will do it at their peril. 1t IS
idle to say the worlds will combine
against you; but it is persuasive 10
saw the world is combined against
YOU: The League OF Natlons
| IS the only thing that can prevent the
| occurrence of this dreadful catastrophe
and redeem our promises.
A League of Nations would have
prevented the late conflict, the p'esl
tent asserted, explaining:
"a did not meet single public man
who did not admit these things; that
Germany would not have gone into
mis- war If she thought Great Britain
'vas going into it, and she most GER
ai0,v would never have gone into 1t
,od che dreamed America was gong
no if And they all admit that
o,ioe beforehand that the greatest
-.o,-ers Of the world would combine to
rot This sort of thing would PIE
,ent 1t absolutely.
.ca declaration Of the presl-
80 49, that wars might be avoid
\ IN the future by operations
= he League He pointed out other
,aortant features of the Peace
rts+v how it was the redemption OF
YEA. nations, giving them freedom
| ',hica otherwise they never could
ave won; how i says These people
ave a right to live their own lives
,ndsr governments which they them
ewes choose, and how that is the
american Principle and l was glad to
,oat Tor it,, and that was the very
,eart of the Treaty, he said
He drew attention to the section of
| ne Treaty which is a Magma Charta
4 .aEor." which shall dispose of the
ours. conditions and remunerations
ii labor. j
1T forecasts the day., he said
w..fc,, ought to have come long ago,
v,,a statesmen will realize that NO
,a-4or IS fortunate which is not hap
". whose people are not contented,
.ntented in their lives and fortunate
\ tie circumstances of their lives.
I, conclusion the president said he
ct certain the Treaty will be accept