Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-08
President i'm Address at
Omaha Defends Section
of League Covenant.
CRITICISES THOSE
WHO PICK FLAWS
Calls Covenant "Charter Of Liberty
For World" and Never Dreamed Of
Before - Omaha Turns Out Only
Average Crowds to Hear Wilson and
See President and Mrs. Wilson
Train Sidetracked in Cornfield.

Omaha, Sept. S,-Prompt acceptance
of the treaty so that uncertainties in
labor conditions thruout the world may
be cleared UP was urged by President
Wilson in Omaha today. The inter
national organization to be set up he
bin of rights The president spoke to
n crowd Of Nebraskans and Iowans
said to number 1900.
He was taken on an eight mile auto
ride on the way 10 the hall. Women
of the Red Cross drove the party.
Down town there were crowds which
cheered the president and in the resi-
dental sections small crowds gather
ed. Altho the presidential special had
left Des Moines early, II was side
tracked near midnight amidst the Iowa
corn fields near Underwood. 1t was
about 3 o'clock before the train reach
ed Omaha.
Panacea For All Ills.
Mr. Wilson said he was happy to ap-
peal for acceptance OF the treaty not
as a representative of a party but us
representative of the whole people.
saying he believed the people had been
led to believe there were only four or
five clauses in the treaty.
The president showed bulky pack
age which was a copy of the peace
treaty. Those who picked little flaws
IN it. he said. had no conception of the
majesty of it. Every one who has read
the treaty believes 1T contained the
complete settlement of the matters at
issue I'm this war; and that 1t contain
ed the machinery to keep them set
tied"
"The character of liberty for the
working men of the world" Mr.. Will
son said. never had been drQamed Of
before" He added that there was
only one way to see to the enforce
ment of such provisions and that was
thru the league of nations. He said
that every naticn except Germany
would be included in the league and
she would be included after period
of probation.
The treaty was not too harsh and he
said 1t provided only that Germany
pay what she vas able. She had com
mitted a criminal act he said, and
must suffer and pay.
covenant NOT war tToor.
Confidence that the United States
would enter the league at it's formation
was expressed by Mr. Wilson, who
said the only alternative would be to
stay out and then come in later along
with Germany.
Emphasizing the arbitrations OF the
league he said that in case those pro-
pheces failed the result would be not
war. but an economic boycott and iso-
lation under which the strongest ma
tiou in Europe could not stand for six
months After that, he predicted, they
will have no stomach for war;
Quoting Article X. OF the league CO.
venant, Mr.. Wilson said any one who
could understand the English Ian
guage must admit that when 1t said
the league could advise" it meant
advise" and not compel. He charac-
terized the league as the only pos
sible guarantee against war and sald
he would feel rccrcant to those who
fought the war If he did not urge its
adoption.
II was not an absolute guarantee.
he added. because there was no alb
solute guarantee against human pas
sion."
Discusses Reservations.
Discussing for the first time during
his speaking tour proposed reserva-
tions to the league of nations. Presi-
dent Wilson replied in his address here
today to arguments advanced by those
who favor restrictions.
"A reservation" said the president,
"is an assent with a big but We
agrec--'but.
THE proposed reservation providing
for unconditional withdrawal from
membership" said the president,
meant that it's sponsors wanted to sit
near the door with their hand on the
knob and II they saw anything they
didn't like to 'scuttle and run"
The league provision that interna-
tlonal obligations must be fulfilled be-
fore withdrawal never would restrain
the United States. ne said because this
nation always would live up to its pro-
visions.
Those who wanted a reservation to
Article x, Mr.. Wilson continued, sim
ply didn't want to come in now but
wanted to be late joncrs."
Any reservation regarding the Mon
roe doctrine, he added. WAS unneces-
sary because the doctrine has been
'.swa!.c~sG, neo., line ana sinn"r 81
the peace conference and had been au-
thenticated by the big powers Of the
world for the first time.
SO far as reservations about domes-
tic questions were concerned. he de-
clared, II would be work OF superb
sntiori. We didn't ask Germany's con-
sent about the meaning Of any one OF
those terms when we We're in Paris,
he said.
I'VE told them what they meant and
said. Sign here Does any patriotic
American want that method changed!
There were cries OF mo, no. from
the crowd.
II reservations were put In. Mr.