Rock Island Argus., 1919-09-06

its processes for revision of all
grants Of territory to the 9TH
er powers as well as Japan.
Went in to End War.
Finally and this where
the president always makes his
biggest hit, he reminds his
hearers that America went into
the war to end war, that con-
scrfptiOn was put into opera
ton and liberty loans WCre
floated and hard earned dol
lars were taken from American
pocketbooks and the flower of
American manhood sent to
foreign graves not merely to
beat Germany but to prevent
any other nation from trying
the experiment which Germany
tried. Nine days of discussion
he contends would have been
enough to prevent the last Eu-
ropean war as Germany would
not have gone in if she knew
England would fight and she
would certainly have held her
horses if she dreamed America
might come in Now, the presi-
dent points out, nine months
would be provided for arbitra-
tion or discussion before there
could be war and if there were
war, the economic boycott
would be effective. stubborn
nations would be starved into
submission. they would be COM
mercially isolated and tinanc-
tally bankrupted unless they
accepted the verdict Of man
kind. If the league isn't set up
and Europe goes on as il has
been he thinks there will he
more war and America VIII
be drawn into it and our loses
will not be a couple Of hundred
thousand but many millions Of
men. So 1t will be seen from the
foregoing that the president is
appealing to the peaceful in
stincts of the American people
and the deeply imbedded pas
sion for peace which elected
him in 1916 on a platform OF
Keep us out of war" and then
supported him whOleheartedly
on a platform of freeing the
world from militaTism and of
safeguarding democracy. Mr..
Wilson cynically recalls the
enthusiasm of certain of the
leagues opponents when Amer
lea entered the war and says
that when he led America into
war to put an end to war busi-
ness. he meant il, Dramatic
aIly he excIaims that he would
not be able to look into the face
Of a widowed wife or be
reaved parent if he came back
from Paris without d program
to end future wars. To those
who would turn away from the
weak and helpless in Europe,
the new nations which hither-
TO have been the pawns OF the
strong because no power in
terceded in their behalf, Mr..
Wilson applies the epithet-
Contemplate" And it is mild
language compared to that
which he will probably use be-
fore he gets through in de-
nouncing those in America
who, he thinks are selfishly re-
fusing to see the JOB through.
Now or Never.
Slowly but surely the presiden
drawing a line bowen tht
eace at any price elements wht
anted to warn Americans off tn
gh seas and wanted to amend
-e conscription act SO our troops
light not help the allies and thost
no supported the war with Ger
any in the hope that out of /
ould come some kind Of a con
.rt Of moral and physical power
preserve peace. Mr.. Wilson ad
its flaws in the covenant but says
ey can be corrected in time anC
at unless the league is set VI
wv, the whole international com
nation which was set up to bea
armany will fall apart and vii
II easily be brought together
Jain.
H NAlhAAAE supp PSA -
Business men who heard the
esident at St. Louis-and his ap-
al to eschew party politics drew
nd applause from the many Re
blicans present-said afterwards
at Mr.. Wilson had made head
~. Some said they had not un-
rstood before how deeply Amer
An business was involved in the
ntroTersy over the league, The
Louis chamber Of commerce is
rdly Wilsonian. Men sat at the
est table who had attacked him
.terly heretofore, but when he
Id that he was touring the coun-
: not as a party man but as an
nerican, they jumped to their
It and Joined in the applause and
eers.
Unquestionably. Mr. Wilson will
Ike a better impression as he re
)ves from the public mind the
tion of party politics. which he
1k only men of his own personal
to Paris with him and
lored the Republican party. The
esent Republican leadership on
: treaty is not popular. Leading
pub1icans here and there as we
LveI whisper to US that they
nix the course Of Senator Lodge
d Senator Knox is mistaken but
~ also say the presidents tao
S hitherto have made many par
ans.
His View Wins Favor.
Wilson might be the
t TO admit it but his profes-
rs of political disinterestedness
his clear exposition of articles
the treaty on which he has here
ore been vague and ambiguous
7e done him more good in this
ton of the middle west than all
studied statements, letters and
.demic addresses to congress he
, yY,a5a since getting hack from