Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-06-20

sun is snort, direct and to the point
I II is accordingly a question OF the
sort which we like to be asked, and
we reply in the same fashion:
ITO the Editor of the Sun Sir: To
put it mildly, you seem to disapprove
Of almost everything President Wilson
has done at the peace conference.
"Wih you kindly allow me to ask
you o1e question: With the world sit
uation what it is, and with American
interests in the peace of the future
making it the paramount duty of the
republics belief to safeguard those in
terests, what else could the president
have done?
l.. H. b.
Worcester. Mass, June s."
There are several other things
President Wilson could have done; for
example:
1. He could have examined the
language of the oath which he took
on assuming the oce to which the
people elected him and have ascer-
tanned that he then solemnly swore
that he would faithfully execute that
office and to the best OF his ability
preserve, protect and defend the con-
stitution of the United States.
the constitution he had sworn to pre-
serve, protect and defend and have
ascertained by even the most casual
examination of it's provisions and linn
itations, that it contained not a single
word warranting him in absentfng
himself for six months from his post
of duty in order to participate in the
settlement of European political af-
fairs or to promote a self conceived
scheme of internationalism engaging
this independent republic in functions
and responsibilities with which it
has no concern and which it's tradi-
tiona l policy has emphatically dis
avowed.
3. Having thus learned what his
constitutional function was and where
it lay, President Wilson could have
remained where duty to the constitu-
ton and to the people held him. to
attend to the multitudinous domestic
affairs crowding upon the government
of which he is a part. in consequence
not only of its normal operations, but
also of the extraordinary situation
created by the war
4. He could have nominated peace
commissioners to negotiate treaties
with the enemy powers. He could
have sent their names to the senate |
for confirmation. thus constituting a !
delegation truly representative of the /
tPea ty- making power of the United |
States government. instead of "A dele |
cation consisting of himself and his /
commissioned staff of neg
hgibles. He could thus have given to
the proposed treaty the weight of re-
sponsible signatures before it goes to
the senate. instead of signing the rat
ification clause of that treaty, as he
is now reported to have done in this
really amazing styte: Honorable
Woodrow Wilson, President of the
United States Acting in His Own
Name and by His Own Proper Author
Ity."
And if the George Washington had
in some mysterious way transported
President Wilson across the pecan
against his personal desire and better
Judgement and put him on the job
in spite of himself he could ever-the-
less have done several things he has
lot done.
5. He could have remembered his
pledge ostentatiously put at the very
front of his IA points of principles,
70 arrive openly at an open covenant
If peace and to conduct his diplomacy
always frankly and in the public view.
g. He could have prevented the
scandal which has now resulted from
IFS unblushing and persistent resort
o secret diplomacy of the sort he had
lvoided the political consequences of
selfish and arrogant determination
o keep his constitutional partners in
he treaty making business in the daflx
the scope and contents of
he compact he has been negotiating
n the name of the people of the
United States. He could have spared
he country the exhibition which his
yild-eyed and senate committee on
oreign relations. the Hon. Gilbert NJ.
Hitchcock of Nebraska, is now max
ng in Mr.. Wilson'sbehaf.
I. He could have restrained the too !
acile tongue and pen from utterances
designated TO create in Europe the i'm
ression that he spoke with authority
or the people of the United States of
America. when in fact he went abroad
ot only without a mandate from the
eopl for whom he assumes to speak !
ut actually after having appealed di-
ectly to them for such a mandate AID '
fter having been with unmistakablei
mphasis repudiated by them as tffeir
pokesman.
s. He could have kept us out Of
ntanglemeat with foreign affairs
18th which we have nothing to do. He
ould have kept us on the straight
nd always glorious road of indepen-
ent. self-respecting policy.
9. He could have spared US The
umiliation of being made by his un- !
uthorized activities to serve rs the
Ir. Fixit of all the world; the mcddler
the concerns of every tribal nation '
-hich has been the subject Of study 1
Y his personally selected geog-aph- Il
,aI and chronological experts; the
hameless betrayer in some cases of
heir just rights and reasonable S
aims in order that his league of ma T
ons might not come back home with S
i'm on the George Washi 1gton a p
ldaver.
These are a few of the things which il
resident Wilson has done which he Il
light not have done and the things &
yhich he has not done which he u
lould have done since he forsooS his II
ost of constitutional duty and under =
,ok. unbidden. to reorganize the for e
gn world according to plan for t