Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-03-08
FOP FILL AND FREE DISCUSSION

lion for q league proposed by the commission OF the peace nleren
thoroughly and carefully discussed and considered" shows tha' "e
DISTINGUISHED Massachusetts, senator is becoming more rational ao
;s.fIe f. think straight once more. The statement is issued from Bos-
ton showing that the senator has had a chance to get IN touch VIII
no noorIe "back home" Then, too, President Wilson is no longer
present 10 arouse the passions of jealousy and hatred which causes men
ven IS intelectual and selfpossessed as Senator Lodge to lse c0n'ioi
of themselves. Not only is President Wilson not present. ot ne Is
sailing farther and farther away and his vilifers have had IN oppof-
tunty to cool off. -.
Senator Lodges sober second thought in which he says tha
..tbere must be no haste and no rashness in determining the most mo-
onest;on eve presented to the people of the United States
- tho world " is more in keeping with his dignifed bearing ana
makes one think that already he regrets his hasty action IN presenting
TO the senate during those closing hours when every memoer "
have een at better business, a round robin which will later urn up 10
plague every man who signed it.
Put Senator Lodge is not the only critic of the proposed constnu-
tion of the League of Nations to profit by coming in contact VIII me
neople and getting in touch with popular sentiment. Senator Knox,
cf Pennsylvania. W even more bitter in his attack than Senator
Lodge. but he received some startling information when he got nome'
For instance, in the twentysecOnd congressional dlstricto OF III
svlvania. including Butler and Westmoreland counties, a speclai elec
t;on a held this week to choose a successor to a Republican n
oressman who had died. The Republican was elected last November
by a majority over his Democratic opponent OF 1881 votes' rms wee
the Democratic candidate was elected by a majority II nearly
his Republican opponent. A most significant fact IS that MS IS I'll
first Democrat to be elected in this district in the last fifty years Sen
alto Knox, as orc of the Republican leaders in Pennsylvanla' was
doubtless much Interested in this most unusual procedure The eN
PLANTATION was not hard to find. :,
III seems the Democratic anuludCe WeuCp eLoIc hc FoCoio PN"oW
to support President Wilson in bringing about the formation of the
league of nations upon the lines as drafted at Paris, or as they may &c
perfected later. The Republican candidate, on the other hand de-
clared that his action ON the proposed league would be governed by
the course the Republican leaders decided to follow.
On the day of the election in this strong Republican congressional
district in Pennsylvania the news was received of the famous round
: fsSsTs bfesenes BY Senator todgas- WHnc Practically announced tne
Republicans attitude on the league plan as drawn. The voters lurneo
ont # the polls that day and, irrespective of party, voted overwheim-
ingly for the man pledged to stand by the President, turning a hepup-
lcan majority of over 1000 last November into a Democratic ma
= rnn NJ ol4 Co,otor Knnv1 acd ulv Drp ID
this expression of sentiment by the people of his own state He too,
doubtless now thinks that a more thorough and careful discussion %
TIE question is desirable.
senator Lodge is right when he says that there should be no haste
and n q rashpess in determining this most momentous question. But
that round robin of his was rash in its inception and was presented IN
haste. 1t is to be regretted that personal animosity toward President
Wilson will not permit some men to view this most important matter
in the impartial manner in which it should be considered.
There is no doubt that President Wilson has made some serious
bunders. He is wrong in ignoring the senate In the manner ne has
and it was a mistake not to have appointed a senator on the peace com
mission. He has erred in refusing to take any of the senator's into his
confidence in regard to matter in which the senate has an equal part
with himself.
However, Mr.. Wilson, mistakes or n mistakes, is the President
of the United States. He is now engaged in the great task of trying
10 get the civilized nations of the world together into a league the
object of which is to prevent war in the future. Associated with Pres
ident Wilson in this great and noble task are the leading statesmen
of all the leading nations of the world. 1t stands to reason that any
constitution that is adopted will not suit everybody. If it does not
suit some of the United States senators in some of its provisions, II
also is not exactly what others who are deeply concerned would de
sire. Even President Wilson himself had to give up some of his ideas
that he would like to have had embodied in the document in the inter
est of harmony.
But because it is impossible to have exactly what one wants is nj
reason why the whole principle should be rejected. At least it is
step forward. 1t a move to abolish war and that is what mankind il
clamoring for. 1t is this feature that puts public sentiment so hrmi!
behind it so that in strong Republican districts where Democrats have
not been elected in fifty years, the people gladly vote for a Democra
rot because of his politics but because he stands for the league tina
has for its object to do away with war in the future.
The league may not succeed, but the least we can do is to give i
a trial. If we never make the attempt we will never achieve what W
all most fervently desire.
Because the proposed league of nations is such a grave matte
for every household, not only in this country but throughout the civ
ilned world, is just the reason why the matter should have a full ant
free discussion as Senator Lodge now declares. The people ought +
know every side of the question.
But after all isl said and done. some form of a league of nation
must result. whether il meets with our entire approval or not. Tn
object is too important to let pass without a trial There lis so muc
at stake for mankind in this epoch-makng document that each ma
lion NAV well afford TO surrender some of its sovereignty, if need b.