Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-03-05
president MAY ASK
CHANGES IN LEAGUE
Wilson Says Territorial Rule May
Be Altered.
MUST CHOOSE PACT OR WAR
Senator Hitchcock in Speech Says In
ternaIization Is Here-Alterna-
tives Are War or Covenant
of Nations-Monroe Doc
trine Safe.

Washington, Feb. 2s-President
Wilson desires closing Of peace
treaty as speedily as is consistent with
the great questions involved, and, eX-
cept for adjustment of territorial diff
ferences, he believes a great part OF
the work is approaching final form.
This was learned by newspaper cor
respondents with whom he president
had a free and frank discussion OF lis
work at Paris and the legislative stu
alton after he had spent two hours
comforting with administration lead
ers at the capitol. 1t was the first.
time the correspondents in Washing
ton had been invited to see the preSl-
dent in several years
1t was learned that the amendment
TO the proposed constitution of the
league of nations which The president
intends to suggest upon his return to
Paris will deal with measures to be
used by the league in enforcing terri
torial DEGREES.
Doubt Held Unjustified
1t was gathered that the president
believed that with the exception OF
the clause relating to enforcing terri
torial DEGREES the only antiquities
connected with the league constitution
existed in the minds of persons dis,
cussing them.
The president let 1t be known that
he is firmly convinced that in no par
ticular does any provision of the
league charter conflict with the
American Constitution.
He told his callers that in the Paris
conferences he had closely and care
fully kept in mind constitutional fea-
lures, and had had the advice of ex-
pert American lawyers on all constitu-
tional questions arising.
Those appearing to conflict with the
Constitution were rejected or altered.
Regarding the Monroe doctrine the
president felt that the league consti-
tuition could not contravene it when
1t provided for maintenance of the
doctrine by all the world.
LII ttScItt W COIISI tSSiIIldl l6S1~lIl'
ton the president made it known
that he was interested in securing
passage of several important legisla-
ton bills, but that most of his con
ferences at the capitol were to re
ceive requests for action from sena-
tors and representatives.
Hitchcock in Defense.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, the
chairman of the foreign relations COM
mittee, speaking in the senate in favo~
of the proposed constitution, declared
that the alternative of the league of
nations is war.
(which shall it be-war or prepa-
ration for war, or a league of ma
tions?" he said ''Those are the al
ternatives.
81 have observed as far as this dis
cussion has gone that most senator's
who oppose this league of nations
would oppose any league of nations
They bubble and split hairs, enor-
mously magnify the sacrifices of the
United States in going into this league
as though the United States was CIV
ing up everything and getting moth
Ing.
"InternationaIism Has Come"
1.-TWO of my eloquent colleagues at
tack it as. form of internationalism.
They object to internationalism. They
are too late. Internationalism has
come, or is coming, and we must
choose between the internationalism of
justice and honor and peace and mu-
tual support among the nations of the
world and the internationalism of the
socialist, the anarchist, the bolshevik.
eff we fail to adopt an international
ism of governments that will unite to
end wars we shall be face to face with
the internationalism of the Individual.
"If war and the preparations for
war are to continue the chief business
of national governments we may ex-
pect a development of socialism and
bolshevism in the United States. Nor
will it be confined to orations on soap
boxes in the public streets of our great
cities, but it will appear here in con-
gress. in the house of representative
and the senate. 1t will affect 1egisIa-
ton in this country as it has in Other
countries; it will seize political power
In this country as it has in other coun-
tries. I therefore repeat that we must
ch1ose between the internationalism of
the league and the internationallsm of
the socialist"
Senator Hitchcock contended the
proposed league would strengthen the
Monroe doctrine.