The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-22

CALIFORNAPROVE
MOST|NSTRUCTNE
Explanation of Treaty Points
CorreCtS PubIic's Wrong
Impressions Due To Hiram
JohnSon'S Claims.
BY DAVID

Especial Correspondent Of The NeWa
\ScimItarl,
ON BOARD PRESIDENT WILSON'S
SPECIAL TRAIN, Sept. 22.-Presldent
Wilson gave five days of his time to
the state of California, more than he
devoted TO any other state on his tour.
Aside from the fact that California
boasts that 1t the most progressive
state In the Union and therefore able
TO discern more readily the wisdom OF
proposals looking toward the advance,
ment ana progress OF human society,
M. wilson has been told that Califor-
MA had received, through the speeches
OF us Junior senator, Hiram Johnson,
some erroneous impressions of what the
treaty of peace contains.
The president has not been debating
with Senator Johnson, but has been ex-
has been the impression, for example
that Great Britain had six votes in the
league OF nations to Americas one, that
audiences have. gone away wondering
how they have been led to believe such
q statement. Mr.. Wilson has simply
read the covenant to them and disclosed
lhat the British empire and the United
cl Of the league, the only body that
can accomplish action, While the sew
eral colonies Of the British embire each
have a delegate to the assembly which
takes no action but simply discusses.
The president calls the assembly THE
voice OF humanity" and the council an
INSTRUMENT for the carrying out Of the
mandates Of world opinion when 1t has
crystallized, When the president showed
thRt the assembly votes on no questions
except the admission of new members
ana that when II renders any other
opinion on an international Question no
majority vote can be valid unless It
includes the affirmative vote of all the
states In the council, of which, II
course, the United States is a member,
the. people act a. Ii they have been
told something entirely new,
Perhaps 1t would have been better II
the president had explained the matter
o. voting and representation when he
first got back from Europe, as 1t GER
talnly was raised then and has been
gaining momentum in the public mind
ever since, but such extensive publicity
has Just been given to the presidents
argument that 1t is doubtful whether
In the case OF any except those who are
80 affected by the Irish question that
any votes at all, there will be much
misunderstanding on this point here
after.
Indeed Mr.. Wilson has felt himself
embarrassed, on the other hand, to dis
cuss Britain's representation lest 1t give
the people of the several colonies the
IMPRESSION that the United States didn't
want to have them represented in the
league; for instance, Canada, which
made more sacrifices In human life
In the late war than did America, gets
nothing material out Of the wal and
her people are plainly insistent that
hereafter. they shall not be dragged into
war by the central government III Lon.
don without an opportunity for tn,
people of Canada to express, through
their representative, a verdict thereon
Again, South Africa, to which tn
United States extended an overwhelm
ing sympathy In the Boer war, ha
shown herself throuEh Gen. Smith, he
Representative at the peace conference
and Gen. Botha, to be even further ad
vanced in her desires for world peac
than some of the statesmen of England
Australia, too, whose soldiers tough
alongside the American troops an
gained an everlasting hold on the af
fections Of the Pershing army, feel
the necessity for a voice In the bi
partnership which is to determine tn
affairs Of the world. Indeed, II wa
when a tendency to show a spirit in
dependent of London appeared that III
statesmen Of England yielded to th
demand of the self-governing colonie
tuT u pdil VI SetttihS AG loi0tkH Bullt
Of the empire, especially when It nigh
affect their lives and property. Ne
} Zealand felt the same way.
10 be sure 1t Is said that, based o
|, his experiences at Paris, the presiden
thinks the British colonies are Just a
apt 70 concur in the views OF the Unit
ed States as they are IN those Of III
! cially true the question OF racii
equality Is introduced by Japan,
But Mr., Wilson's argument that III
British colonies merely were to HAY
delegates present who can express the
! views applies also to countries more {
States. Cuba, for instance, would ha,
a vote or delegate In the assembly. s
would the Philippines when its ind,
pendence Is granted, So would Psnami
! which Is already an. independent stat
! America could, as a rule. count b
Brazil and some of~the Central ar
South American states whose interes
are Identical with the United States
/ that even In the matter OF an expressiC
Q of opinion In the assembly, the Unit.
r States would find as allies With her q
: the countries which were disinterest,
: in European intrigue and which Won
be more than likely to concur in II
American view as they have in the pas
The way Mr., Wilson has handled Il
Q Shantunp question has also impress,
Ca~iifornfans, At the big meeting
Oakland there were occasional hiss
for johnson, something unheard Of
California, But some Of the people
4 the crowd whom ! talked with afte
ward said this was not to be . co
strued as by any means a represent;
n tive impll lion Of public feeling towaI
Senator Johnson, though they admit,
h that his arguments IN the league hs
omitted to tell all the facts about Shal
tung aud the question OF Britain's S
o votes so that his prestige in the sta
! might eventually Ne affected.
The president turned back eastwal
eSnnaaw for 4 week mnra of snannl