Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-11
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH
IN HE Presidents speech before
the Senate yesterday is not
~ ,Iaar ont a~xDlapatiOn of

the Senate yesterday is not
such a clear-cut explanation OF
the League of Nations and the Peace
Treaty that doubling Americans VIII
be able from it to make up thelr
mands one way or the other WIN
D to it's effects on the future
life and policy of this nation. What
the President said sounded all very
nice, but it was not what the sltua-
tior demanded. 1t had not the ring
of absolute uncontrovertable fact to
hack IT: it was, like so many OF the
Presidents addresses, lacking In
finished analysis and therefore not
entirely convincing. The Presluent
must saw more than he has If he eN-
nects his critics in the Senate to &C
cent his views. Up to this time he
has done very little more than urge
that they be accepted largely De-
u they are his views ana there-
fore. he concludes, can mo- pc open
~ reasonable debate. 1t is this at
tit,de. the utter failure of many OF
the Presidents policies n his en-
tire reversal of position on several
vital questions that took some OF the
Senators as doubling Thomases 10
the chamber to hear him n lelt
them in the same frame of nina
There can be no gainsayins that
the President neal we'll. NOR AN
a he said that a majority of Amerl-
cans are opposed to a League of Ma
lions in some form. Ever since the
idea. was first voiced by former Pres
ident Taft. and afterward borrowed
nv Mr.. Wilson without the form
.Ii+,, NJ credit to its author, there
h.s been a growing conviction in
this country that some sort OF all
ance for peace might help to keep
the unrulv members of the family
of nations in order. However, there
&c No settled conviction that Mr..
Wilson and his fellows at the peace
table have reached a OASIS
for such an organization. we must
know precisely how the United
states is going to be affected by the
league before we adopt 1t.
No matter what Europe or the Iresi-
dent thinks about it, If the debate
that is to ensue regarding the plan
leaves the country convinced that
u is not good for the United States
the whole thing must be thrown
overheard, for what is not good for
one member is not good for m and
the plan would fail.
However, it is not likely that eX-
termity will be reached. After
thorough discussion of the whole
matter, it is likely that some sort of
agreement can be arrived at whereby
the United States Senate will adopt
the agreement with certain definite
ly stated reservations and u own
interpretations OF some of the
clauses hat might be construed in
WAYS that would NEAR Unnecessary
trouble for us.
Whatever the consequences we
must preserve the rights of the
United States from being overrid-
den by the selfish interests of other
countries. We must keep ourselves
clear of petty European pickering
and from becoming a tool in the
hands of ambitious European poll
ticians. Up to this time the President
has not convinced many Americans
that the league will do this. Until
he does do so he must expect seri-
Gus differences of opinion and strong
opposition TO his plan to bolt the
entire dose without objection or
change.
Nobody objects to the league as
. such, but all of us do want to be
sure that 1t is not more harmful
than helpful before 1t is too late. We
are entitled to that information, and
IL the President is wise he will pre-
serve his temper in the debate that
Is to follow inc let us have a purely
logical explanation from his view
point of every question that may be
raised.
His business experience is enabling