The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-16
Republican Should Not Fight
L. of N, Says White.
Emporia Writer Declares Party
Is Playing With Fire.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY ROTTEN"
G.. O. P. Should Not Run Risk
of Losing Campaign.
He Praises President Wilson's
Attitude at Peace Table.

William Allen White, of Emporia.
just home from seven months as
signment at the peace conference, has
served notice on the Republican party
that opposition to the league of ma
lions covenant spells trouble. He as
serted that party leaders seeking to
make the pact an issue are engaged
in small business. He says fatty that
the party will lose if it goes before the
people on such an issue in 1920.
In an editorial in his Emporia
Gazette. White praises President Will
son for his work at the peace table.
He also flags the everlasting daylights
out of the Democrats. THE good
Lord knows the Democratic party is
too rotten, too incompetent and too
generally untrustworthy. to deserve
the pudding of a victory which the
Republicans will put in the Democrats
hands by forcing this issue" White de-
clares. White admits the league cove
nant needs fixing. But he is optimis-
tic that time will iron out the creases.
He says the covenant is about where
the constitution of the United States
was when it was adopted"
The White editorial criticises the
president for not being more definite
and specific in his appeal to the ma
ton. He says Wilson was vague where
he should have been specific. Then
he praises the president for earnest
and sincere endeavor. The president
says White. The covenant and the
treaty are by no means the full and
final harvest"
Possibly the Senate can improve
these documents" says White. Then
he adds:
They are not God given. 1t is not neces-
sary to regard them IS having been handed
down from Sinai. The covenant Is ABOUT
where the constitution Of the United states
was when it was adopted ana oerore me
amendments began making 1t workable
document. Doubtless the states consider
| ing the American federal constitution saw
saw where it could he improved and made
Ia living instrument of justice. was the rea-
, stitution with its bald imperfections. The
treaty also has its faults rs well as the
covenant Of the league. But If the league
/ is secured the league Will furnish a court
of appeal to which the faults and injus-
i tees Of the treaty may be taken for read
| justment.
Keep Hands Off.
The real meat of Whites editorial
! is in his warning to the Republican
party to keep hands off.
| "One more smashing defeat and
| that defeat upon a false ISSUE says
| the returned newspaper man, will
start the daisies sprouting out of the
toes of what was once grand old
| party"
White warns his party not to permit
| hunger for an issue to permit 1t to
] take the south side OF the league row.
/ He says:
! The real danger in the situation is a
political danger. We may as well face the
! fact. The Republicans are hungry for an
, issue. They can't get together on the Issue
| of the social, industrial and economic re-
| construction of this country. For they
don't think in the same language. Penrose
| and johnson, Watson and Borah, Nc
| Cormick and Sherman; but they get
/ together or anything to beat the Demo-
| Gratis. So they are intent on discrediting
the president. They want an issue and
! they are jeopardizing the peace of the
| world to make it, 1t is small business.
| And what is more. 1t will wipe the Repub-
! fic1n party off the map For one more
/ smashing defeat and that defeat upon a
1 false issue, will start the daisies sprUut-
| ing out of the toes of what was once a
/ grand old party. And the good Lord
knows the Democratic party is too rotten.
| too incompetent and 700 generally untrust-
worthy to deserve the pudding of victory
which the Republicans will put in the
Democrats hands by forcing this issue, rs
! the Republicans are trying to force IL
I Cow.
These are hard times for the world