New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
before he went to Paris the first
time.
Wilson's Statement Challenged


ment that the overwhelming majority
of the people OF the country are in
favor of the league and that he in
tends to tell the peace conference of
this.
This statement was also pointed to
BY those who feel confident he will
begin vigorous fight for the amend
ment OF the league constitution to
meet the objections raised as soon as
he reaches Paris.
There was much curiosity as to
where the President got his conviction
that such an overwhelming majority
of the people OF the United States
were in favor OF the league constl-
tuition as proposed. Senator Hitch
cock admitted he told the President
the people of his section were sweep
ingiy in favor of it, and added that
many of the newspapers of the coun-
try were coming to it.
Asked how many letters he had re-
ceived the Senator said about one
hundred. but did not give the proper
tion for and against.
Senator Borah. of Idaho, one of the
leaders in the fight against the league
said he had received 1,5G0 letters. just
94 per cent of which were against the
Dakota, an almost exclusively agricul-
tural state, said the President would
not think the country was overwhelm-
ingly in favor of the league if the
President could read the mail he was
getting from North Dakota.
Sees Pact Rejected Here
'The whole sinister aspect of the
matter" said Senator Poindexter, "is
contained in MIR. Wilson's EXPRESSED
statement: Now we are ready to make
the supreme sacrifice of throwing in
our fortunes with the fortunes of men
everywhere Heretofore it would be
thought inconceivable that an Ameri-
can President should utter such a
thought The American people will
make no such 'supre sacrifice.
eff the President carries his an
nouncement and tells the people on
the other side of the water that an
overwhc Inning majority of the Amcri-
can people is in favor of the league of
nations he will mislead Europe. SO
far as the constitution already pro-
posed is concerned, it cannot ever be
ratified in this country.
mo information is contained in the
Presidents address in New York as to
his proposed constitution. As usual, he
makes no specific reference TO it. The
epithots of comprehensive ignorance
and other more abusive words which
the President seems to satisfy himself
with do not convey to the American
people the specific information which
they desire upon this subject. In his
address to the Governors the President
declared that the people must control
their own affairs.
Judgment by People Denied
"In the matter Of this world govern
ment. however. to which he proposes
30 transfer the sovereignty of the
United States, he apparently declines
to give the American people an oppor-
tunity TO express their judgment on the
subject.
"The first opportunity they will have
TO do this will be in the election Of
1920. and the entire matter should be
postponed until after that date in or
der that the Presidents policy Of re-
ferrlng matters to the people may be
CARRIED out.
"The President says Intrigue cannot
stand publicity, and if the league of
nations were nothing but great de-
batting society it would kill intriguc.' ,
That is why we did not obey the
Presidents direction to the Senate not
to debate this matter. That is also
why the American should have full
opportunity of discussion and censor
ship on news from Paris should be
removed, The President says and so
the league of nations is nothing more
nor less than the covenant that the
world will always maintain the stand
ards which it has now vindcated by
some OF the most precious blood ever
split
Past Standards Abandoned
"lf it is only to maintain standards
ma ar+. mi hor
sion for it. We have been insisting
upon that ourselves. The trouble with
the proposed constitution is that it
abandons all the standards of the past
The favorite statement which has m s.
led many people, repeated by leading
advocates of the league, is that we can
never dlsarm and we cannot have
peace without the league. This is sim
ply mlsstatement of facts The truth
OF the case is we cannot have dis
armament with the league as now pro
posed because no nation is going to
surrender to alien control the question
OF its disarmament.
"lf we are to have disarmament il
Will be by the nations getting together
IN conference and formulating a
plan of general disarmament to be
ratified by each one. For the members
of the league to disarm. as proposed
and leave the great military nations
outside Of the league armed, would be
the height Of folly and cannot be
agreed to.
End Of War Delayed
"The President says that if we dc
not adopt this proposed league we
will sink back into period of strug
gle In which there will be no hope
and therefore no mercy The fac
OF the case is that if the making O.
peace and the establishment of per
manent conditions in France are mucl
longer delayed and sdetracked Will,
we consider the futile proposal OF ,
world government, we will sink bacl
into period of struggle In fact
that struggle is still gong on and i
~ the duty OF the peace congress t,
bring it 10 an end at once and no
delay 1t for discussion of the world
leagues for future perpetual peace
THE world can agree in fact tn
great nations Of the world have alread,
agreed among Themselves. to maintai,
ppaee. and upon this agreement good
VIII and common n-sensc peace can b
preserved IN the future, if we will bu
join In.
Il have no way Of knowing whethn
inc ft"s'dcnt is sight OF wrong In hi
assumption that tho people IT the roun
tfY Hfp overwhelming ~ favor Of IN
ieavue ~ nations constitution as pro
nut"d,' SAID Senator Gore. "Ny ma
80 fhr lndientas that She fafmefa g
~ state H"Hm - be timing ut avuina
I ,he league, whpiaaa the people ia th