Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-09-04
STRONGLY DEFENDS
LEAGUE As ONLY
way TO END War
Columbus, Sept. 4.-President Wilson, be-
ginning his country wide tour for the league of
nations, declared here today that his purpose was

to 60 out ana report 10
my fellow countrymen.
1.-THE only people owe report TO-"
said the President, "are you and 9TH
er citizens OF the United States"
The President said it also semed
increasingly necessary that he
should make such a report because
he had read many speeches about the
treaty and was unable to gather from
them much of what the treaty con-
tanned
Speaking to a crowd which jammed
Memorial hall, with its seating capac-
ity of 1000, the Presidents declara-
tions frequently were interrupted by
cheers. The President was introduce
ed by Governor James f. Campbell.
as the first citizen of the big round
world"
Asks People to Hear Him.
The President appealed to his hear.
ers if they would not read the treaty
for themselves, to at least accept the
account of its contents as given by
those who made it. He said he had
heard a great deal about the selfish
ness of other nations. but there really
was concert Of feeling at Versailles.
I'VE were under instructions, and
we didn't dare come home without
fulfilling those instructions. II +
could mt have brought back kind OF
treaty that | did bring back. | never
would have come back" he said.
The Pesident said it was not his
purpose during the trip to debate"
the treaty. but the expound it.
The President appealed to his hear
ers to exert their influence for accept
ance Of the treaty.
Don't let me pull it down. he said,
don't let them misrepresent it.
Means End of Wars.
when this treaty is accepted" he
said, the men in khaki will never
have to cross the seas again and I
say when it is accepted, because it
will be accepted"
As the President was leaving the
hall a Chinaman in the gallery called
several times, ''AIr. Wilson, how about
The President apparently did not
hear him
The President began his address by
saying that he had been "chafed" af-
ter confinement at Washington. and
was glad to get ont TO make his re.
port to the people
In the first place" he said "the
treaty undertook to punish Germany,
but there was no thought to over.
whelmingly crush and degrade it's
people.
Restraint had been exercised. he
said, and there was provision for
making the reparation no greater than
Germany could paw.
Mr. Wilson said he had been aston.
ished at the statements made about
the treaty and was convinced many
Of them We're made by men who had
not read it or else had failed to com.
prehend its meaning.
Unfaithfu to Dead.
The league OF nations. he declared.
was formed in fuldlment of the prom.
ise that the United States was fight.
ing this war to "end business OF that
sort forever Not to establish the
league. he said, would he "unfaithful
TO those who have died"
III we do not do this thing" he de.
rlared, I'VE have neglected the cen.
tral covenant we promised our peo.
pie. The league Of nations is the
only thing that can prevent recur.
renee of this catastrophe.
BESIDES this. he continued. 'the
treaty tears away the chains OF op.
preston and gives small nations the
right to live their own lives.
That" he said was the American
position and | was glad to fight for
it,"
Explains Italian Attitude.
Italy, the President continued, had
presented to the conference con.
trary proposal in her request for Fl.
ump
Tho there We're only scattered Ital.
ian settlements there. he declared,
Italy wanted F'iume for strategic and
military purposes II there were a
league OF nations, he said, Italy would
not need that foothold
"ld rather have everybody on my
side he continued, than be armed
to the teeth"
This treaty is an attempt TO right