The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-09
PRESIDENT WINS
FRIENDSHIP OF
WESTERN FOLK
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and not honest doubt. But Mr.. wilson's
friends ask why Mr.. Wilson should be
80 tender Of the feelings OF the men
who are passively or otherwise failing
70 assert their disagreement with that
action IN the Republican party which
Is 10 his mind disappearing the
areaiy as a breeder OF wars and as too
erueI 70 impose upon Germany. They
ADD that only a few months ago the
republican party won a congressional
election largely on the program OF 'un-
conditional surrender and as assidu-
ously, spread apprehension that the
president favored "a soft peace" They
declare that the Republican senators
VINO are condemning the treaty have
IN large part therefore proved that their
objections 10 the league are derived
from a sense OF political oppositeness
man rather conscientious disagreement.
But, speaking of Inconsistencies II
may be the strain OF extemporaneous
speaking or the saturation Of argument
ana thoughts carried away from his Wis
II 70 Europe, but Mr.. Wilson is him.
sell forgetting from one night to an
other the substance or some portions
OF MS speeches. For example, at the
coliseum at st. Louis, ne went to CON
siderable length to explain that this
was a commercial war" and that Ger
many feared her rivals would wrest
her trade from her, but last night at
Des MONIES, the president, to make
alother point, said the bankers and
business men Of Germany did not want
war put thought it ''u~nspeakable folly"
whether the president to convey the
impression that a militaristic group in
Germany proved to the business men
that the way to greater commercial
success was by a war of conquest. or
whether Mr.. Wilson thinks that in some
or the allied countries the seeds Of
commercial jealousy helped to breed
antagonism in Germany and to play
into the hands Of the militarists was
not explained. Mr.. Wilson harms ON
the necessity for breaking down pan
Germanism n keeping the road open
IRON Bremen to Bagdad and safeguard
ing the republics along the way, but
ms audiences do not seem to grasp the
meaning OF "mittel Europa" politics.
IL is apparent that whenever the pres
ident stays on simple ground he makes
an effective impression. Many a man
in his Des Moines audience liked his
explanation Of the %Shantung controversy
and l believe Mr., Wilson gained friends
when he frankly told the Des Moines
people that he didn't like the Sh%antung
settlement any more than they aid and
that Great Britain and France, In order
10 induce Japan to come into the war,
had made a bargain which had to be
kept.
Mr., Wilson pointed to article 10 as
the solvent OF our own as well as Chi
mas troubles with Japan. Although men
IN the senate have called 1t a breeder
OF wars and have wanted the article
qualified II not stricken altogether from
the treaty the president has won loud
applause when illustrating the value to
the United States Of that much mooted
article: First, he applies it to Belgium
and shows how a pledge by all the
world, including the United States, TO
protect the territorial integrity Of Bel
GUM and Its political independence
would have been sufficient to prevent
trail Europe and declares that unless
article 10 is in the treaty. the whole
structure falls and that Rumania, Jugo-
S,avia, Bohemia and Poland are left
helpless in the midst Of strong fight
ing nations and can produce another
world war. Or else, Mr.. Wilson refers
to the Philippines. He says In effect,
but plainly enough for his audiences to
catch the hint, that America has been
worrying for the last decade how she
could turn the Philippines loose without
seeming to toss the helpless islands
into the arms OF Japan, He implies
that America would have to stand guard
with a big navy in the far East to guar.
antee the independence of the Philip
pines. But now he exhibits the league
OF nations n article 10 in particular
~ y sdlrs udIH lot the say.
ing the combined armies and navles ci
the world would be obliged to defend
the territorial integrity of new repub-
lies when once Independence Is granted.
Last, but not least, Mr.. Wilson APP
plies article 10 TO the case of unfor.
tunate China. He ~cynically reminded
his Des Moines audience that you never
hear much about the other nations be-
sides Japan which now hold economic
as well as territorial rights in China by
virtue OF the lease system OF indefinite
possession, and says that temporarily
Japan has been substituted for Ger
many. He gives the impression that 1t
was not possible to give China the Ger
mar rights without logically asking
Great Britain and France and the other
powers to give up their holdings In
China. But he hints that under a
league of nations II will be possible to
sc cure a revision of these leases and
also that no more territory will ever he
taken from China because article 10 will
apply to any land grabbing nation that
seeks to practice aggression upon China,
so he exhorts the sincere friends Of
China to get inside the league IL they
really want to help China.
Explanations OF that kind seem to
please the big audiences for Shantung
is a question which has been widely
discussed. Mr., Wilson is right when
he says that only three or four provi-
I EINIlH vi VIZ ~ Aa NN bNNHF utN1u0SNA
out here and while It Is wise Tor him
TO explain the heart and substance of
the other articles, his crowds appreciate
information on the controversial phases
OF the document.
II is difficult to estimate the effect
OF Mr.. Wilson's journey thus far. These
Middle Western people throw their hats
into the air and wave their arms In en-
thusiastic demonstration. The streets
in Des Moines were jammed with cheer:
ing thousands at eventide. II looked
like a triumphal procession as the presl-
dent rode through the throngs OF lowans.
The 10000 people who crowded the COLI
scum in Des Moines to its very rafters
came from all parts Of the state. Many
rode 200 miles to hear MIR, Wilson, 1t
was q spontaneous tribute. They re-
spect Mr.. Wilson out there, though they
don't care much for the Democratic
: party. But the president won his cleo
ton in 1916 by the drift Of the Western
folks toward his program OF peace ano
his supporters west Of the Mississippi
river have not altogether deserted him
His strength is still based rNon an In
tense desire for peace and an end &c
war that Is stronger than n politica
party and stronger too at present than
the mistakes Of the Democratic admin
lstration on domestic policy.
The president is making a sentimental
appeal. He has described the suffering
OF Armenia, the plight Of torn and dis.
turbed France and Central Europe anc
the burdens Of taxation, as well as thu
awful possibilities Of further conflici
which he predicts will come " thu
United States decides to stand off an6
build up a big army and navy anC
I refuses TO do Its part in Kidding thu
: world Of the militarism that made pos,
sihle n world war.
: Eyes are being turned inquiringly to
| ward the senate
0 Copyright, 1919, by David Lawrence.
NFnnNlA AAnn lIIIhITC