Evening star., 1919-09-22
Discusses Bankruptcy"

Mr. Wilson has hitherto ignored Sem
ator Johnson's argument that Amer
lea, the only solvent nation. was about
to go into partners with the bankrupt
nations of Europe. But at Los Angeles
he struck away with unwonted Bit
terness at that suggestion.
I'VE are told" he said, that we are
strong and they are weak, that we
still have economic or financial inde-
pendence and they have not. Why,
my fellow citizens, what does that
mean? That means they went into the
redemption Of the freedom Of the
world sooner than we did and gave
everything that they had to redeem
it. And now we, because we did. not
go in so soon or lose so much. want
to make profit of the redeemers. The
thing is hideous. 1t Is unworthy of
/ every tradition OF America. I speak
of it not because I think that sort OF
thing takes the least hold upon the
consciousness or the purpose OF
America. but because it is pleasure
to condemn so ugly thing"
As to Last october's Plea.
But If Mr.. Wilson's explanations on
Shantung and the respective powers
of the. assembly and council or the
question Of deserting decrepit Europe
were not sufficient to make his Los
Angeles speech notable. his conclu-
sion alone would have been enough.
In a few sentences he practically
apologized for his ill-fated appeal OF
last October for a democratic Con-
sress, a petition which was resented
FAR and vide by the rank and file Of
the republican party as a rejection
on their Americanism. Mr.. wilson
was urging his hearers to make their
impulses felt at Washington.
IT do not mean," he said. by any
threat of political disaster. Why: my
fellow citizens, may I indulge in a
confidence? 1 have had men political
ly disposed say to me, as democrat:
Does Not Want G. o. P. Misled.
This is all to the good. These leaders
of the republican party in Washington
are going to ruin the party They
seem to think that will be pleased.
do not want to see the great repub-
lican party misrepresented and mis-
led. I do not want to see any advan-
tage reaped by the party am meT-
Der of because another great party
has been misrepresented, because I
believe in the loyalty and American
ism and high ideals of my fellow citf-
zenS who are republicans just as much
as 1 believe in those things in demo-
Gratis. 1t seems almost absurd to say
that. OF course 1 do. When we get to
the borders of the United States we are
neither republicans nor democrats. 1t
is our privilege. to scrap inside the
family just as much as we please. but
it is our duty as a nation in those
great matters of international con-
Germ which distinguish US to subor-
dinate all such differences and be a
united family and all speak with one
voice what we all know to be the high
conceptions of American manhood and
womanhood."
Statement Is Cheered.
The President was cheered for sew
eral minutes as he made that state
ment. But his speech was frequently
interrupted by demonstrations. Mr.
Wilson has come into what may have
been regarded as hostile territory be-
cause Senator Johnson represents 1t
in the United States Senate. but Cali
fornia is no longer hostile. 1t is pre-
ponderantly for the league of ma
tions, and whether Senator johnson
is busy next week or next month in
the Senate, he will find California
waiting for an explanation Of his
course in the present controversy
The men and women, and especially
the women. are puzzled by Senator
Johnson's opposition.
And my prediction is that long after
the treaty has been ratified Hiram