The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-09-09

S-@S-S-C!o1 WdrQ - Cney'd 70
back to Washington and scramble
over themselves to ratify the treaty.
The president is going before peo-
pie the vast majority Of whom are,
TO say the least, apathetic in regard
to the peace treaty and the League
OF Nations. They have paid little at
teHtion to the debates in the Senate.
They don't know whether Shantung
is in Jugo-Slavia or in Africa; they
have simply heard somewhere that
there's row on about it.
They may have been wondering
why the United States hasn't ratified
the treaty as France and Great Bri-
tain have, but beyond that they are
vastly more interested in the high
cost Of living and the possibility Of
labor troubles than they are in the
League of Nations.
This attitude the president is
changing. He is pounding home the
necessity for immediate ratification
Of the peace treaty so that the world
may Immediately derive the benefits
it provides; he is urging upon his
audiences that they awake from their
lethargy and demand of the Senate
that it accept the League Of Nations
and help to make war impossible.
He's getting his message over in
human way that is somewhat unlike
his usual scholarly addresses.
when the League of Nations is ac-
cepted," he told his audience at Co.
lumbus, 'the boys in khaki won't
have to cross the ocean any more!'
Nothing about Shantung; not
word about Fiume or Armenia or
British votes in the league council
just that appeal to mothers, wives
and sweethearts that goes to their
hearts:
"Your boys won't have to cross the
ocean any more!''
Ohio wasn't getting excited about
the League of Nations or throwing up
ifs hat over it. The cost of living was
getting much more space in the news
papers and in public conversation
than the treaty.
'Nobody's talking about the League
OF Nations, although I guess most
everybody is for it, Charles E. Nor
MS, Governor Cox's secretary, told
me, before President Wilson had
made his Columbus speech. ''They
ARE talking about the high cost Of
living. though"
And even Thomas e. Powell, leader
Of the opposition forces in Ohio, ad-
mitted that if referendum were
held on the League of Nations in the
state few people would take the trou-
bic to vote.
1--WE can't get the people aroused
against it," he said.
After the president spoke people
left the hall vowing they would write
to their senator's and demand the
treaty be ratified
They were frankly disappointed be-
cause the president had not discussed
the problem Of how to make a dollar
buy dollars worth Of food instead
of so cents worth. They had also
hoped to hear him tell what he pro-
posed to do to prevent a railway
strike. and to bring permanent peace
between capital and labor.
But the president had chosen to
confine his address to sounding the
keynote Of his ratification campaign.
He did not even urge ratification on
the ground that it would reduce the
cost Of living, as he has done before.
Il am not debating the treaty: I
am expounding it." he said. and it
was plain that his explanation had
gone home.
Where Borah and johnson, and
Lodge and Knox are appealing to the
minds Of the people. President Will
son is appealing to their hearta And
there is mo doubt that Columbus. At
least. has awakened from its apathy.
toward the peace treaty, and IL deter
mined to do what it can to hasten
It's adoption. B