The Alaska daily empire., 1919-03-07
Taft's Share in Wilson's Triumph.
(New York World. ]

Writing Patrick Henry after the Constitution of the United States had been framed, George Wash ington expressed this opinion of the convention s work: "I wish the Constitution which is offered had been more perfect but sincerely believe that it is the best that could be obtained at this time
 We odrow Wilson might well pass the same judg- nent upon the constitution of the LeagnH of Nations ngon for the Constitution of the United States With ou Washlngton's influence there would have been without Nilfons influence there would have been no Constitution Of the League of Nations in 1919
 President Wilson's triumph at Paris is the more remarkable because he has had to struggle not only against all the elements of reaction in Europe but against the most reckless and most shocking Ameci- can propaganda that was ever directed against an administration engaged in foreign negotiations This partisan propaganda took the form of deliberate and calculated attempt to Conference merely to discredita President Wilson at home
 . The original spokesman of this propaganda was Theodore Roosevelt, who Nov. 26 issued state mcnt in which he addressed himself to the European Governments in these words:
 Under these circumstances, our Allies and enemies and MT. Wilson himself
 should all understand that MT. Wilson has authority whatever speak for the American people at this time. His leader | ship has just been emphatically repud- l ated by them. The newly elected Con- gress comes far nearer than Mr. Wilson to having right to speak the purposes of the American people at this moment. l Mir. Wilson and his Fourteen Points and
 his four supplementary points and his five
 complementary points and all his utterances
 every which way have ceased to have any shadow of right to be accepted expressive the will of the American people.
 former President of the United States who was the recognized leader of the Republican Party, admitted of only construction--that the Republicans under MT. Roosevelt would join any European Government in repudating President Wilson's peace program which had been incorporated into the armistice with Germany, and that the United States Government should be wholly ignored and dsregarded in the framing of a formal peace.
 As the United States could consttuionaly particf- pate in the negotiations only through MT Wilson, MT Roosevelt's statement was naturally interpreted as a any European Government any issue against the President of the United States, whatever the quences might be.
 l It was inevitably a disconcerning situation for European statesmen The United States could not be ignored if they had wished to ignore it Neither the Republican Party nor the Senate could have any legal status at peace conference. They had to deal with the President with nobody and yet Mr Roosevelt in behalf of the Republican Party was declaring that the President had right to speak TOT the Amerlcan people, whlch meant mat officially, nobody had any right to speak for the American people and the United States istent at the Peace Conference.
 Mir. Roosevelts advice had to be dsregarded for two One that it led straight to in ternatonal anarchy and the ultimate victory of Ger many at the peace table after losing the war The ether that President Wilson's strength among the masses of the people in Great Britain France and Italy so tremendous that no Government could survive the attempt to ignore him. He more powerful in Europe than any European statesman.
 Thanks to another ex-President of the United States, William H.. Taft it became apparent That MT. Roosevelt spoke for only fraction ot the Republican Party. Although the Republicans
 
 deprive the United States Government of any stand ing at the Peace Conference have continued their activities without interruption, their efforts have attracted less and less attention in Paris from day to day. Mir Tafts influence a spokesman of Amer lcan Republicanism has correspondingly increased and he rightly shares with President Wilson the credit for the fact that the Constitution of the League of Nations is living, vital Bill of Rights between peoples and governments
 Neither MT. Wilson nor MT Taft originated the idea of a League of Nations. Neither of them did the actual work of drafting the Constitution. But for President Wilson it would have had part in the hnal peace and the nations would have settled hack into the international relationships that bred this war But for MT. Tafts vigorous and patriotic support it is possible that MT. Wilson would have failed completely at the peace table, regardless of the public sentiment that sustained and applauded him.
 To these two Americans President and President the world its first Great Charter of peace and liberty and universal justice.
 over here we keep out undesirable foreign manu- tactures by imposing prohbitory tariffs. In England they Keep them out by direct embargoes. Over here state ika rofar tha