Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1919-09-11
AMERICAS PLEDGE
SACRED WILSON
PRESIDENT SAYS OUR PROMISE
TO TRY TO PREVENT FUTURE
WARS SHOULD BE KEPT.
ONLY HOPE is IN WORLD LEAGUE
Says Germany Would Not Have Dared
to Strike II Nations Had Been
Banded Against Aggression.
iBy Mt. Clemens News Bureau.)


st. misunderstanding a high con-
fldence that his fellow citizens in the
great majority agree with him in his
desire to end war forever, and that
Nations inclusion Is ratified by the
senate. President Wilson is making
successful way across the country on
the long journey he has undertaken
for the purpose Of laying before the
plain people a report Of his work in
Paris and explaining to them just
what the League means.
Thus far In his travels he has every
where yet with warm greetings, both
In the great halls where he has
spoken formally and in the little cross
road hamlets where his train has
halted at times and he has exchanged
words with the vtllage who pressed
forward to greet him He feels, and
does not hesitate to say so when
chatting with his travelling compan-
ions, that the American people want
no more Of war and want to become
part OF the League so that there may
be no more war He struck his key
In Columbus, Ohio:
This treaty was not intended mere
ly to end this single war. 1t is meant
as notice to every government who
in the future will attempt this thing
(what Germany attempted) that man
kind will unite to infiict the same pun
ishment There Is no national
triumph to be recorded in this treaty.
There Is no glory sought for any par
ticular nation. The thought Of the
statesmen COLLECTED around that table
was Of their people, of the sufferings
they had gone through, of the losses
they had incurred, of that great throb-
bling heart which was so depressed,
so forlorn, so sad in every memory 1t
had Of the five tragical years that
have gone by. Let US never forget
those years. my fellow countrymen;
let US never forget the purpose, high
and disinterested, with which America
lent its strength, not for its own glory
but for the defense Of mankind.
LAS I said, this treaty was not
meant merely to end this war. 1t is
intended to prevent any similar war.
I wonder If some of the opponents OF
the League of Nations have forgotten
the promises we made our people De-
fore we went to that peace table? We
mad taken by process OF law the
flower of our youth from every coun-
tryside, from every household, and we
told those mothers and fathers and
sisters and wives and sWeethearts
that we were taking those men to
fight war which would end business
of that sort, ard II we do not end 1t,
IL we do not do the best that human
concert of action can do to end 1t, we
are of all men the most unfa1thfAl-
the most unfaithful to the loving
hearts who suffered in this war, the
most unfaithful to those households
bowed in grief and yet lifted with the
feeling that the lad laid down his life
for a great thing, and, among other
thin gs, In order that other lads might
never have to do the same thing.
THAT Is what the League Of Ma
tons is for-to end this war justly
and then not merely to serve notice
ON governments which could contem-
Mate that they will do so at their peril,
hut also concerning the combination
of power which will prove to them
hat they will do it at their peril 1t Is
idle to say the worlds will combine
against you: but it Is persuasive to
cav the world Is combined against
YOU: The League OF Nations
IL the only thing that can prevent the
recurrence of this dreadful catastrophe
and redeem our promises"
A League + Nations would have
nrevented the late conflict, the presl-
dent asserted, explaining:
~ did not meet a single public man
who did not admit these things; that
germany would not have gone into
this war if she thought Great Britain
VOC going into it, and she most GER
tainly would never have gone into 1t
had abe dreamed America was going
into It And they all admit that a
notice beforehand that tne greatest
Movers of the world would combine to
prevent this sort OF tnias "ooio PIC
vent it absolutely.
Applause and cheers greeted
each declaration OF the pFest
dent that wars might be AVOID
ed In the future by operations
Of the League. He pointed out otneF
important features OF the Feace
Treaty. how it was the redemption Oh
weak nations, giving them freedom
which otherwise they never could
have won; how 1t says These people
have q right to live their own lives
under governments which they them
selves choose, and how that Is the
American Principle and | was glad to
eight for it,, and that was the very
heart of the Treaty, he said.
He drew attention to the section of
the Treaty which is Magma Charta
of Labor" which shall dispose of the
hours. conditions and remunerations
Of labor.
cit forecasts the day., he said
which ought to have come long ago,
when statesmen will realize that no
nation is fortunate which Is not hap
DIV. whose people are not contented,
rontented in their lives and fortunate
In the circumstances Of their lives"
In conclusion the president said he
felt certain the Treaty will be accept
ed. and was only impatient of the de-
Law. He added: do you realize my
fellow citizens, that the whole world
ia waiting on America? The only
country In the world that Is trusted
today is the United States and the
world Is awaiting to see If its trust is
justified"