The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-18
WILSON COMING BACK
FOR HIS BIGGEST FIGHT
President to Go Before People
in Behalf of World Peace
Treaty


Washington, June 1S.--(Copyright by
New York Evening Post. president
wilson is to take the stump. He is
coming back from Europe within thirty
days. Probably he viii get here in
time to make speech on the Fourth
OF July at some central point like St
Louis. He wants the people of the
country to understand the exact mean
ing to them of the treaty of peace and
the league of nations. First. as a mat
ter OF courtesy, he will address con-
gress,, presenting the treaty itself, in
person. Then he will appeal to the
American people.
Official announcement of the presi-
dents plans came from the White
House after the receipt of the cable
been watching the situation in the
United States closely from abroad
Summaries of opposition opinion and
details of the fight being made by his
opponents In the United States have
been sent him regularly President
Wilson'S decision to go before the peo-
pie OF the United States himself means
that he is fully aware of the storm of
criticism which has been raised against
both the treaty and the league and he
Is coming back for the biggest fight of
his career
From Coast to Coast.
Inc Journey of the president may ex-
tend from coast to coast. 1t will be
non partisan. The invitation to speak
IN st. Louis for instance, has come
from Senator Spencer, republican, as
well as committee of democrats. II
Mr.. Wilson speaks first in st. Louis, he
VIII have an opportunity to meet the
same people from whom Senator Reed
democrat says he derives the right to
oppose the league Of nations.
Senator Spencer's position Is simply
this: He has not yet announced how he
VIII vote on the final issue. But he
welcomes the chance to have President
Wilson give the people of Missouri n
report on the proceedings at Paris
Presumably Mr.. Spencer will follow the
wishes of the people of his state as
manifested after they have heard both
sides.
II Invitations Pile Up.
IL is not known yet Just what cities
or states will be included in the presi-
dents itinerary. Largely 1t will depend
on how much time MIR. Wilson will be
able to devote to the whole task, and
what is the attitude of the country
itself If the people of the various
states want the president to come be-
fore them and invitations accumulate
Mr. Wilson may find it necessary to
make his Journey rather extensive.
Probably the president will spend much
time in the west His health is good
and he Is said to be ready for the ire
mendous ordeal involved in a stump
ing tour.
The president will have started for
Belgium tomorrow to make the trip
which he long ago promised he would
make He will be back in Paris on
Friday. The Germans are expected to
sign the treaty before the end of the
present month The president wants
TO get back in time for a speech on the
Fourth of July, but it would not be
surprising if the delays attendant upon
the final signing of the treaty prevented
him from doing so. AS soon as the
German position is known, however,
the president will start back. He may
not await the purely ceremonial part
of the signing. Probably the official
text will be carried on a steamer that
leaves Europe after MIR. Wilson does.
Coming Back Eagerly.
Judging from the conversation al the
White House, the president is turning
back to America with an eagerness to
meet his opponents that is reminiscent
of his earlier struggles with opposition
in congress. Many times he has been
compelled TO appeal to the country for
support on questions of foreign policy
and has been uniformly successful. He
appealed for a repeal of the Panama
canal tolls, and among his supporters
were Senators Lodge and Root. He had
republican backing, too, when he asked
for test vote on the McIemore resou-
ton. The president is anxious for re-
have started earlier and should have
consulted congress more or selected
peace commissioners representative of
the republican party, But Mr.. Wilson
presumably viii tell why he has not
consulted congress more heretofore. He
will give a retaled report of the
changeful situation in Paris. and viii
ask for support not on any personal
basis, but on basis of national interest
in the future, the issue of more war
and chaos or a reconstructed world and
ultimate peace. The president is said
to be in a fighting mood. ready to tell
the people what embarrassments are in
store for them in the future If they al
low party politics to divide them in
these critical days, His plea will he for
"A united country so that America may
prosper and enjoy the fruits of peace.
| The republicans have been having
things al their own way IN congress.
Mr.. Wilson doesn't believe the country
wants the league of nations made
partisan question, or that the American
people sanction the position recently
taken by the leaders of the republican
party.