Grand Forks herald., 1919-07-12
NEITHER PERSONAL NOR PARTISAN

I appreciated nave
come in contact with them. But all thinking can
something their and their scope The
task before that conference greater than that
Statesmen had ever before undertaken. With clean
sheet with would have been labor of
magnitude, the difficulties involved in its very
enhanced by the fact that the sheet
but bore the records OF national life for
all of varying conditions. OF
things written be could be erased.
Much of it stand either in whole with such mod
ifications might possible. the business
of the conference to make these modfica
tions, in the with remained of
The old in produce whole that
would be just and workable 1t wonder that
time, thathe result is free from
| flaws
probably has occurred to the president though
many other people, that of the
difficulties which he himself encountered might have
been avoided essened by different attitude his
part. The strength American position the
war behind solid support the
reputable citizenship of the country Outside group,
sometimes noisy, but numerically insignificant, and utter
y contemplate in character the people of the United
States unanimous in regarding the their war
and the of party, faction class: In it
Americans of all sorts shoulder shoulder and
the spectacle of that splendid unantty cheering
to friends and depressing to our enemies was
the thunder of actual battle Without that
unanimity administration could have made success
of our participation in the war;
In relation the of making peace there has
not been the same unaninity There has been, we be-
eve substantially the unity through
country large congress- especially
senate, there division which world
known. Influential members of the have been
outspoken in their opposition the terms which
the president regarded essential, namely,
which would include formation of League
tions approximately the conditions which been
actually laid down. During the entire period of the
conferences work it has known Mr. Wilson and
those who conference with him that the work
which he engaged might be rejected by the.
and that thus the entire effort might be rendered
futile so far as this country concerned That
have added greatly to the difficulties.
is conceivable that by any attitude of his
the president could unanimous acceptance
of policy by the That would have been
much But it clear that if been
the habit taking intimately confidence
the members of the legislative body upon
must depend for the consummaton work, there
would have existed sympathetic understanding which
appears have been utterly absent That of action
has long known entirely foreign Mr. Wilson,
He is sefcentered self sufficient. practice
been his way silently secretly no
sci with those whose cooperation heust ultimate
g depend and to present the finished product of his
thought with what demand that it be ac-
cepted entire and without question 1t
the legislative the who have
experienced this treatment year
after year, however much they admire the
mis- unquestoned talents fully they may con-
in his conclusions will react resentfuly against
dictatoria attitude. Mr.. Wilson could have smoothed
he Of the
by observing different attitude associates in
the. government at home.
Again. party politics has injected into the stu
aton distinctly the impairment of a consideration Of
the great issues involved their merits Because most
OF the opposition the League of Nations proceeds
Republican senator's there is tendency confine
demnation for all this the Republican party
But the Republicans have monopoly Of parsanshp.
If it is oppose League of Nations in
order to gain advantage for Republican partyand
it swhat shall be said of those support the com
pact in order gain advantage for the Democratic
party? Is the attitude praseworthy than
the other? The fact is that year there will be a
presidential election, well the election new con-
gress The Democrats retain control Of the
idency and to regain control of Republic
wish to retain control of and regain the
presidency And while the motives that indtvd-
uas vary with their character it is not to be
that political partisanshp influences consciously or un-
consciously in varying measure attitude of not few
men both sides
! Again. Mr. Wilson be charged with his share
of Responsibility In the filling great position he
has by forgotten his party associations and
committed gross offense against good in
his untimey, unactul and utterly unusabe appeal to
partisanship eve last congressional election
II has been said that that result Of un
wise counsel. It may be the president is IN /.
position to choose his counselors and it is his
to reject bad advice on that occasion and
HE course others. have keep the fires
of partisanship burning, the dsadvantaxe Of
monumental work.
The facts which have led up to the present state 81