Omaha daily bee., 1919-01-11
WICKERSHAM OF
BELIEF COMMON
MANS day HERE.
CONTINUED from Page Ons1

NNN~A#sH~-"~
corning laws and treaties that effect
vitality their daily lives,
Wage workers should have had
representation at the peace confer
ence. But then, the American dele
CATION is representative of nothing
but Mr.. Wilson's will, and Mr.. Will
son is relying wholly upon suisse
quent ratification by the American
people to justify his exclusion from
the councils of any element which
might question the finality Of his
wisdom.
He also relies upon the influence
of his rhetorical ethics upon the
minds of the masses Of Europe to
compel acquiescence In his projects
by the leaders of the allied powers.
Events alone will determine the
wisdom of his scheme.
A priori, ii would seem doomed
to failure. The world is too extern
sive, too complex, and at the mo-
ment too demoralized to admit of
a settlement upon preconceived &C
ademic lines.
Proletariat Wins.
One thing, however, is clear; that
is, that the conditions under which
live great masses of people in all
countries who must labor with their
hands and earn their bread by the
sweat of their brows, must receive
the most intelligent and sympathetic
consideration on the part of those
who guard the destinies of the great
nations. .a
From the rank anarchy of Rus
sia's bolshevism to the almost I'M
precedented protests of the British
soldiery against conditions of de-
the verdict of the
common man" is heard in every
country, demanding justice and bet
ter treatment for himself and his
class at the hands of those whose
superior education and greater adj
gantages have put them in control
IF the machinery of government.
Technically, perhaps. the problems
hey present do not fall within the
primary purpose of the peace con-
ference, which is to settle the terms
hat Germany, Austria. Turkey and
Bulgaria must accept as the con-
1itions under which they will cease
% be enemies of the civilized world.
But every day more uncertain and
conditions develop in
-hese countries.
Is Peace Possible Now7
1t would be impossible at this
to discover a responsible
government whose signature could
1e. accepted as a guarantee of the
'uture conduct of Germany. Aus
ria is already divided, and who can
speak for Turkey.
The initial consideration before
he peace conference is whether
here can be any stipulated peace
1t all with the Teutonic powers, or
+ the allied governments are not
charged with the task of preserving
social order in the regions of Europe
which formerly the enemy govern
nents controlled.
Wholly new social forces evolve
new civic order and new industrial
states which may promise peace. and
peoples whose de-
1endence upon military autocracy in
he past led them to their present
condemnation and ruin.
Peace Delegation Weak,
If this is so we in America must
adjust ourselves to the duty of
maintaining a considerable army in
Europe for some time to come. 1t
will not be popular. 1t will be
cquiesced in only by recognition of
he fact that having put our hand |
o the plow, we cannot turn back. |
1t will be made more tolerable to |
,ur people, if it shall be accompanied |
" the accomplishment of some in
arrangement which will |
,eneft the working classes of the |
Countries through a common eff
ort at mutual benefit.
But it Is pity that the American |
allegation from the great American
epublic to the council at Versailles
5 not representative of anything |
nut single personal will.