The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-07-29
FOR THE PEOPLE TO DECIDE.

Ihere is very hCCle real leaQerSnlp
in either the Democratic or the Re-
publican parties-has not been for a
number of years-but the Republi-
cans, being in power, have more op-
portunities for making asses of
themselves and they are passing up
no chances.
The big issue before the people
now is the Treaty of Peace, which,
of course, includes the League of
Nations. 1t is a vexing problem and
the sooner it is settled the better this
country and the world will be. In
stead of trying to help reach a So
luton of the question the Republi-
cans are doing everything in their
power to embarrass the President.
They are making of a big issue a
matter of. petty party politics. The
slogan is "anything to discredit
Wilson"
The latest development is the Taft
letters to Will Hayes, chairman of
the Republican National Committee.
Taft in his usual easy, ingenious
way, suggests that the Peace Treaty
is all right, but that the Republi-
cans had nothing to do with making
it; therefore, it necessarily must be
at fault. He further suggests, to
salve the Republican sense of conceit
and to give the impression that the
Republicans have won victory that
certain paragraphs eff the treaty be
changed by way of compromise. The
Republicans hail these two letters of
Taft with acclaim as scoring party
victory over Wilson, who, after all is
the Democratic party in national
sense. They even went so far as to
publish them prematurely in their
eager desire to furnish a symbol of
party victory.
The Taft letters have not helped
matters any and when read analyti-
cally they do not mean anything
more than a request for clarifying
interpretations of certain paragraphs.
At present the Republicans are in
terpreting the treaty as suits their
selfish aims and are attacking the
document on all sides and with a
blindness of vision that is as anus
ing as it is disgusting.
England has ratified the pact.
France intends to do so within the
next ten days. Italy will follow suit.
Germany has already "come clean"
America, of all the great nations
is held back because the Republican
politicians care naught for the rights
at issue, care for nothing in fact,
save that which they accomplish re-
fleet success on them.
The Republicans have never got,
ten together on what they want.
Thus the Democrats are in a better
strategic position. The Republicans
are making speeches and attacking
the treaty generally, but have set
forth no concrete set of reservations
which express their viewpoint. Sem
ator Knox offered resolution which
would separate the Peace Treaty
and the League of Nations, but his
suggestion fell with sickening thud.
Mr.. Root offered other suggestions.
Now comes Mr.. Taft, and Mr.. Taft
is a nice somebody whom we
wouldn't like to offend, but he seems
altogether too eager to save the day,
for his party. Unless the Republi-I
cans get together and set forth their
position plainly and succinctly the
Democrats will still have the edge.
IN the end the people will decide.
Let the Republicans talk their fool
heads off. Wilson will soon 60 be-
fore the people and make direct
appeal and it can be safely said that
he will have a message for the peo-
pie that will be we'll worth hearing. !
Therein lies hope for action; for the
people have a power for coercion I,
that is we'll understood and respected
even in the United States Senate.
...: .;,.:s, ~. Z: ::sES.: - 81 q.