The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-08-28
WILSON ANSWERS
SENATE QUERIES.
Says He Sees No Reasonable Oh
lection to Reservations Con-
corning League Of Nations.
CONFERENCE At WHITE HOUSE
President Asserts United States Sur.
renders No Powers and May
Withdraw a4 Will.

Wilson and members OF the foreign re-
lations committee Of the senate met at
the White House Tuesday to discuss
the peace treaty.
The president opened the discussion
by impressing on the senator's the
urgency of prompt ratification Of the
treaty without amendments and with.
out reservations that would require
resubmission Of the treaty to the other
signatories, especially Germany.
The president said that the interest
OF every class of peopie-the farmers,
industrial workers and employers-de-
manded prompt ratification to the end
that stable conditions Of industry, ag-
riculture and employment be re-estab-
llshed. The presidents address, which
was in effect an address to the coun-
try, follows:
IT hope that this conference will
serve to expedite your consideration of
the treaty of peace. >Ibeg that you will
pardon and indulge me if again urge
that practically the whole task Of
bringing the country back to normal
conditions of life and industry waits
upon the decision of the senate with
regard to the terms of the peace.
II venture thus again to urge my
advice that the action of the senate
with regard to the treaty be taken at
the earliest practicable moment be-
cause the problems with which we are
T., 20 IN, n S1ICt
our national life are Of the most press
ing and critical character, will re-
quire for their proper solution the
most intimate and disinterested
cooperation Of all parties and all in
terests, and cannot be postponed with
out manifest peril to our people and
to all the national advantages we hold
most dear.
"The copper mines of Montana, Ari-
iona and Alaska, for example. are be-
ing kept open and In operation only at
a great cost and loss, in part upon Dor
rowaG money; the zinc mines OF Mis-
souri,, Tennessee and Wisconsin are be-
ing operated at about onehalf their
capacity; the lead Of Idaho, Illinois
anC Missouri reaches only q portion
Of it's former market; there Is an I'M
mediate need for cotton betting, and
also for lubricatng oil which can
not be met, all because the channels
OF trade are barred by war when there
is no war. The same is true of raw
cotton. of which the central empires
alone formerly purchased nearly four
million bales And these are only eI-
a,oDies There Is hardly single raw
material. single important foodstutf,
or q single class Of manufactured goods
which is not in the same case. Our
full, normal profitable production
waits on peace.
"Our military pkGns Of course, wait
unon IT, We cannot inteliigently or
wisely decide bow large 81 naval or
military force we shall maintain or
what our policy with regard TO mill
tary training Is to be until we have
peace, not only peace, but also until
we know how peace is to be sustained,
whether by the arms Of single nations
+
pies. And there is more than that
l;fIc,,ltv involved The vast Surplus
f,r0rcrtiea Of the army include, not
food and clothing merely, whose sale
VIII affect normal production but great
notwithstanding establishments also,
which should be restored 70 their Tor
yner use$-great stores Of machine
Tools, and all sorts of merchandise
which must lie idle until peace, and
military rolicy are definitely deter
4nined,
",Fhe nations that ratify the treaty.
uch rs Great Britain. Belgium and
Rrance, viii be IN a position 70 lay
shefr plans for controlling the markets
4 central Europe, without competition
iron lis. if we do not presently act,
we have no consular agents, no trade
CONSERVATIVES there 10 look after cur
interests.
There are large areas Of Europe
whose future viii be uncertain and
,nasfionable until their people gnow
tha final settlements of peace md The
forces @wn,ch are 10 administer aud
sustain II. Without deterninate mar
Gets our production cnnaot proceed
With intelligence or confidence, There
.an be no easy or normal industrial
,et,its because there can be no con
Idant or permanent revival OF bust
ess. There can be 90 sterilization
i wagaS because there can be no set
a,aa conditions OF employment.
/. .lsyary element Of normal life
.saortsl Us depends upon and awaits
III ratification Of the treaty OF peace;
I'd VI cannot afford 70 lose 9 single
.trirll;ers day by not doing all that
nv taq 10 .aift@ata the winters SUI
sf!t which unless we find means
is-,ge5t Il, may prove disastrous to
.a!.g, / ortis.. Of the world, and may,
ifs yior&i. hiring upon Europe CON
.;.io,i. ever more terrible than those
,,iss';, ~ lie war itself
40, sing. atr led to believe, stands
/ ;, f!lA say If tie ratification OF the
.$e:yy exassf doubts with regard 70