New-York tribune., 1919-05-26
Senator Declares President
Wilson Made 1t So When
He Called in Democratic
Leaders to Discuss 1t
Opposes Lodges Position
Says if Republicans Fail to
Act They Must Give Way
to Organization That Will
Netv York Tribune
Washington Bureau

day that the league is a party issue
having been made SO by the President
and that the Republican party, if il
fails to take a stand on the question
must give place to party that will
In stamping the league as a party
issue. Senator Borah took direct issue
with Senator Lodge, leader of his party
in the Senate. During the Senate's
last league of nations debate Senator
Lodge declared that the league is not
q party question, and added, in re-
sponse to questions, that it never had
been mentioned at any Republican con-
ference.
"Only yesterday" he said, ain speak
ing to the state chairmen of all states
of the Union of the Republican party,
| distinctly stated that l could not dis
cuss with them the league Of nations,
because I did not regard it as a party
question, and never have"
Letter to kansan
Senator Borah's opinion was given
ina letter to D. f. Dunno, an official
of the Sedgwick Republican Club of
Wichita, Kan, VINO had called to his
attention resolutions passed by the
club denouncing the league.
"A political party which would fail
to take stand upon a question which
involves the honor and the indepen-
dence of our republic would be fit for
the derision and contempt of all pa
triotic men," said the Senator in his
letter.
"Those who urge that this is not
a matter for party action shut their
eyes to facts and close their minds to
the things which are transpiring about
US. 1t is already party matter. The
second night before the President left
the second time for a foreign capital
he called his party organization into
consultation. One need not speculate
as to what took place. The able and
faithful chairman of the Democratic
party hastened from the White House
to the first public rostrum and an
nounced the position of the party and
denounced all who opposed the league
as doing so for party reasons.
Party Issue Ever Since
at was then and there made, and ever
since has been, party issue, so far
as the Democratic party is concerned.
Do you know of any newspaper recog-
nized as a party organ that is not ad-
vocating it, and advocating it along
party lines? They were all for the
first draft, because it was perfect, and
they are all for the second draft be-
cause, as they say, it has been great
ly improved. But whatever the draft
be, they are for it, and for party rea-
sons.
att is true that there are thousands
of loyal Democrats who place their
country above their party and are not
for it. These men will never be for
the party again while it stands for this
treacherous scheme. They are en-
titled to the commendation of their
countrymen. But having left party
because it is for the league, will they
take refuge with party which would
have no policy in regard to it?
"But vastly more important is this:
Can political party survive the miser-
able role Of having no word to utter, as
a party, to it's millions of supporters
when the most vital problem ever pre-
sented to our people is up for con-
sideration? What is a political party
for--to steal into office upon passing
Incidents, and by reason of temporary
blunders, and leave the great questions
which involve the honor of our country
and the trarquillity and the happiness
Of our people as whole to go un-
noticed?
Position of the Masses
"The great mass of the people are
not members of a political party for
the loaves and fishes, haunted with an
eager appetite for the flesh pots. They
are there because it furnishes them the
method, and the only method, under
our form OF government, of effectuating
their wishes and their purposes in re-
gard to the questions which touch most
nearly the welfare of their govern
ment and the prosperity and power of
the nation. The greater the problem
therefore, the more searchingly it
reaches for the fundamental PRINCIPLES
OF government, the more quickly and
boldly should political organization
opc"n Aoit III. ~ must take position in
such controversy"
Mr.. Borah pointed to the examnle of
the Wing party. 1t died Of pure DO.
iisical fright" he said, "when it re.
mained silent in order to preserve unity
and enjoy harmony while the question
Of slavery was beginning to stir tbs
American people.
what the organization of the part,
did not have the courage to do, it,
voters, with many splendid acquisitions
did do, under another name"
The old Federal party committed
political suicide, he said, when at tn,
the height of its power 1t struck a
the rights of the prcss and at fire,
speech.
Must Take Position
NO political party" the Senate,
went on, "can live in. poyernmen,
controlled by its moral forces ane
public opinion and dedicated to libert,
which refuses to take position upor
she great problems OF national ex
istence, or which strikes at the Ynnda
mental guarantees Of personal liberty
we have before us the question O
whether we shall keep ourselves fre,
from entangiing alliances with Euro
pean powers, and whether we shal
Keep the Western Continent free fror