New-York tribune., 1919-09-29
Wilson Accused
OF Making 1920
Issue of League
Fess Declares Republicans
Will Make Campaign on
National;sm as Opposed
10 International / d c a
Nc'c York Tribune
lf1sjltrOtO,t S,trrnn


WASHINGTCN, Sept. 2S.-Interna- =
ticnalism, as espoused by President
Wilson, against nationalsr, which will
be the Republican battle cry, will be the
issue ot the next campaign. Represen-
tative Fess. Of Ohio, chairman Of the
Republican Congressional Committee,
declared tonight in a statement charg-
ing the President and his Administra-
tion leaders with making the league
Of nations a partisan issue. In his
statement Chairman Fess said in part:
There never has been anyesubstantial
belief that President Wilson could COM
pei the Senate to accept his view on
the league Of nations. The tour has
accentdated the Presidents estimate
OF the Importance OF the league, which
Congress at whatever cost of inde-
pendent action of the government
Des Nloines Speech Quoted
This statement. which many of the
Presidents friends contended did not
mean that we should surrender the
independence and sovereignty of the
| United States for the sake Of the
league Of nations, has had reinforce
ment by the Presidents astonishing
frankness at Des Moines. when he said :
! Senate, greater than the government
itself
Between Portland and San Francisco
! he uttered what his admirers are
pleased to call the Presidents new
creed: Let us. every one of US, bind
ourselves in solemn league and
covenant OF our own, that we will let
no man stand in our way of leadership
and that in leading we must lead not
along the paths Of national advantage
but along the lines Of human rights
and the salvation of the world
"The swing around the circle has
demonstrated so far as language can
do so the superior Importance of the
dence as a nation as viewed by the
President and his demand for inter
nationalism as against nationalism
The issue henceforth which he has
made prominent, a surrender of
'Amercanism' on behalf of far cry
from foreign countries, in whose at
mosphere the President has been sub
merged for months, must be fought to
a finish in the open where the Ameri-
can voter may have chance to register
his own conviction upon SO important
an issue.
Declares Challenge Accepted
"Thc Foreign Relations Committee
Of the Senate has accepted the chal-
lenge, has determined to maintain our
Independence and sovereignty, and has
therefore declined to accept the Presi-
hot hc Ian &c
greater than our government.
Prom the very beginning of the
controversy Republican leaders have
endeavo-ed to prevent the league being
made PARTISAN issue, that every
American of whatever party atfiliation
might be free from party bias for in
dividual action. In spite of this the
Administration leaders close to the
President have assiduously pressed the
measure IN Congress and out of it for
party advantage, as evidenced by the
action of the National Committee in
Chicago.
"The attitude of these leaders
headed by President Wilson himself
inevitably will make it an issue in spite
OF the efforts of citizens of our coun.
try, including the Republican leaders
of the Senate, who stand foi' undiluteG
Americanism and who demand the
preservation of American sovereignty
The President. and the Democratic
| leaders who arc following him, mus,
accept the consequences of a conte 81
on an issue made on the foreign-made
league now demanded by the President
without the slightest alteration.
Democratic Defeat Predicted
mo party ever did. nor ever can. wiz
contest before the American people
upon foreign issue. The country viii
accept this challenge against at
American policy for the complete re
tention of genuine Americanism, bull
upon our sovereignty and independ
ence, reserving to itself all rights tha
belong to a sovereign nation, withou
possible dictaton from foreign coun
| tries whose interests are not ours.
upon this issue of an altruistic in
| ternationalism as against an undilutcs
Americanism, now forced by this Ad
ministration upon the country by I
command TO ratify the present league
without the crossing of t. or ths
dotting of an H. made the more promi
nent by the swing around the circle.
Republicans. not as Republicans but a.
American citizens, will neither hest
ts.e In acceptance nor falter in defence
l.