Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1919-04-11

lesSly wrong until the Republicans
compelled him to face about, and SO
the league will be much mole their
triumph than his. So be 1t, as long
as Republican opposition is rapidly
to melt away. In proportion az the
Republicans are in position to claim
credit for the league in it's final form,
the issue will be lifted out of its I'M
fortunate partisan setting.
That is a contamination devoutly
to be wished for. Mr.. Wilson and
Mr.. Taft have sincerely desired this.
The way to create Misunderstanding
and defeat the league was to make it
party issue. II that had been the
tendency in Europe, the peace con-
ference would have been an admitted
failure ere this, and Bolshevism
would be unimpeded in it's progress
to the channel ports.
America Wants League.
The American people will not care
much whether the result is triumph
for the Republicans of the senate or
for Mr.. Wilson. What they care most
about, as Senator Capper of Kansas
has recently said, is getting the
league. Now that the partisan out
look seems about to be abandoned,
there will be more generous ten
dency to cOncede that the American
delegates at Paris have quite as much
claim to be considered true patriots
as those who have been holding them
pu as "internationalists" and enemies
of their country.
A couple of weeks ago perhaps a
majority of the senate was opposed
to the league. Today the opposition
is confined. say the experts, to less
than one-fourth of the members.
Senators do admit that they have
been Converted" but base their
change of front upon the proposed
amendments. They say that their
opposition has resulted in compelling
the president to modify his original
position. and that the league as for
mally submitted to them will ade-
quately safeguard American inter-
tests.
Favored 1t In Principle.
Most of them say that they always
have favored league in principle,
and thet their opposition was based
upon lack of proper safeguards for
the Monroe doctrine. immigration and
various other things.
Those who have favored the league
reply by saying that all these items
we're covered in the original docu-
|ment. And 80 both sides seem in
fair way to be happy.
The vote for ratification will not
be unanimous. There are senators
who oppose any form of league, but
it begins to be manifest that they will
have but a small following. II every
thing goes as here outlined. the
league will not be an issue in next
years campaign, for which patriotic
Republicans and Democrats will in
deed be grateful. The campaign will
hinge. as 1t should, upon domestic
questions, Of which there are a plen-
ty. and the ta3k OF returning the
country to normal conditions will be
visibly FASTENED.
With the league made an issue
next year the return would be pain
fully delayed, and an added strain
placed upon industry and genera.
business
Cure Plague Of War.
A few far sighte and sure footed
idealists in this and other countries,
1t Is thus seen, have caught the world
at a moment of deadly war WEAKNESS.
and are inducing 1t to set up machin-
|ery which promises to cure the plague
of war. or at least greatly to alleviate
it. 1t is peculiarly significant that
the great mass of opposition to their
plan has come from America, which
is comparatively war-free and safe,
and which has been proving by its
attitude that its patriotism was still
to a considerable degree parochial.
1t will be worth very much to the
country IL this is removed by the
better understanding now being
reached