South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-26
THIRD PARTY
LOOMS UP IN
WASHINGTON
Fight Over League of Nations
and Other Wilson Policies
May Divide Both Repu'-
IiCanS and Democrats.
BY HORACE III. HERR

i WASHINGTON, March 25.-An
extra session of congress being &C
cepted as certain, the political
thought in the nationul capital ap-
pears to be veering to the considera-
ton Of the effects of republican tao
tics during the last congress. party
prospects in 1920, and available tim
Der for the presidency.
! As a starting place in a recapitu-
lation of the present political status,
one must hold in mind the complete
failure OF the republican campaign.
prosecuted cunningly and under
cover throughout the entire session
of the last congress, to force an extra
session at such a time as would have
provided a congress controlled by
republicans in session while Pres't
Wilson was engaged in his fight for
the league of nations in the Paris
conference. II is admitted by every
one who has watched events here in
the capital that the republican lead
ers are not Just crazy" for an extra
session If IL is not TO be in session
while Pres't Wilson is in Paris Why
have an extra session if there is no
opportunity 10 embarrass the presi-
dent in his greatest undertaking?
DO Not Welcome Outlook
Even if congress reconvenes as
early as the middle of May the peace
negotiations in Paris will have been
/: completed, there will be no oppor-
tunity for irresponsible criticism Of
Pres't Wilson's advocacy of the
To- oF 4
the league of nations will be up TO
the senate, and republican senators
will have to back up their words
with action-and it is the response
bility for this action which repub-
licans do not welcome.
1t is very clear now that the re-
publican attacks on Pres't Wilson
and the league of nations in the last
congress was a desperate attempt TO
force the president TO the advocacy
of a reactionary peace written in
the interest of big business.
If this republican bluff had been
successful, PRIEST Wilson would have
permitted such amendments as would
have been in the interest of the
i privileges enjoyed heretofore by our
Il = ltdN llNtI DdAlOlldl DhSllAtSS lllANl-
4 ests This sort of a league of ma
tions and peace treaty would then
] have gone to senate. and on the
4 representation that the president
8 was responsible" for the terms of the
& peace and the league and the senate
& ought not to turn him down, the
3 senate would have ratified. being
careful to point out that the presi-
dent had permitted commercial in
i terests to dominate the peace rather
than the high humanitarian princi-
Piles for which he said we were
q lighting. The campaign against the
4 league of nations thus far has been
4 a campaign 10 protect international
. business and to force the response
bility for this protection on to the
: president so that the republican
/ party might not have TO answer for
il in the next presidential campaign.
Saw Purpose of Leaders.
But Pres't Wilson refused to be
J forced from his championship of
our aims in the war and also, re-
/. fused to call an extra session of
4 congress while the peace parleys
n were on, knowing that the republi-
x cans wanted the extra session only
because it gave them an opportunity
IS to harangue and embarrass.
II The extra session must be called
d so that needed appropriations may
e be passed for important government
2 activities. It is confidently expect
II ed that. with the prospects OF hav-
J. ing to accept responsibility for an
n the League of Nations. many repub-
r. licans, in the next congress will be
9 less critical and more anxious tc
II find a way to justify their voting for
* the league and the treaty for ever
Ie the republican leaders do not deny
a except in their public speeches
~ that the American people are over.
whelming in favor of the League OF
Ill Nations in any form which is a con
p. scientious effort TO eliminate the pos
y sibilities and probabilities Of war.
:. If a republican congress should
Z. turn down the peace treaty and tn,
league of nations. close observers o.
: the trend OF political events in Wash
ington, assert il would throw Wood
row Wilson into the campaign O
Ia dency for a third time. The yer,
,e thought of this is most disconcert
1t ing to republican leaders. The,
have had enough Of Wilson as
political opponent and are willin
TO do most anything which will elm
mate Wilson from the presidential
Is equasion Of 1920.
Talking New Party.
II is interesting TO observe tina
10 the latest new party" movement /
d. being taken seriously in the eas'
"a Chamberlain and Reed. on the dem
81, ocratic side. ard Penrose and Lodg
OF the republican side. are responsi
= BILE for this, because the liberals Il
=. the democratic party are saying yer
= frankly that the party can not hsv
- Wilsorian ideals ana survive tn
Chamberlain Reed and reactiVnar
- southern tactics The so-calle
progressives in the repu blican part
are saying il is party suicide 10 per
. / nit Penrese and Lodge TO take IN
party back 10 Mark Hanna pOlicie