Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-04
rUESDAY..........MARCH 4, 1913
JUSTICE TO WILSON.

Let us get things straight. Few
people in the United States are OPP
posed 10 a league Of nations, and the
work done by President Wilson, so
far, has not justified personal attacks
upon him because of that work, But
both democrats and republicans are
making the tentative constitution of a
league of nations excuse for lamhast-
ing him-the democrats showing 81
personal animosity not displayed by
the republicans.
Let us not lose sight of the fact
that the great purpose Of the toiling
millions and tens Of millions who have
made the sacrifices and borne the
burdens Of the greatest of all wars is
peace. Peace as permanent as the
common consent and cooperation of
civilized peoples can make it.
No ruler, no representative can be-
tray that purpose. What the presi-
dent says OF the proud position into
which the United States has come as
the trusted of all nations, with the re-
sponsbiity of proving that this con-
fidence is not misplaced" what he
says of the duty now devolving upon
America to do the bigger things it de-
clared its determination to do when
it entered the war--ought to refresh,
encourage and strengthen resolve.
tn q
conference Of the governors yester-
day, his instinct was a happy one,
even if his uttcrances regarding the
prime purpose for which the confer
ence was called were characteristic
ally Delphic. He said:
The primary duty Of caring for our
people in the intimate matters we
want TO discuss here, Of course, falls
upon the states and upon the munich
palities and the function of the fed
eral government is to do what it is
trying to do IN n conference of this
sort--draw the executive minds of the
country together so that they may
profit by each others suggestions and
plans, and so that we may offer our
services to coordinate their efforts in
any way they may deem it wise to CO.
ordinate. In other words, It Is the
privilege Of the federal government
in matters of this sort to be the ser
wants of the executives of the states
and municipalities and counties, and
we shall perform that duty with the
greatest pleasure if you will guide us
with your suggestions"
1t looks like, from that statement,
that the president called the govern
urs together to tell them, as he told
congress in December, that caring for
the returned soldier and for the war
workers who have lost their jobs, is a
local matter to be solved by the peo-
pie of each community, But. like the
oracle of DelphOs. he may have meant
something else-that the federal gov
eminent would cooperate with the
states in this work, the burden OF
leadership in which should fall on the
federal government, because it was
' the power which took men into the
army and into war-work and the pow
err that discharges and sends them
home.
But the president was speaking on q
subject nearer his heart when he dis
cussed the proposed league of nations
saying:
The hearts of the men and women
and children of the world are stirred
now in a way that never has been
known before. They are not only stir
red by their individual circumstances
but they are beginning to get vision
of what the general circumstances OF
the world are, and there is for the
first time in history an international
sympathy which is quick and Vital-a
sympathy which does not display Itself
merely in the contact of government
but displays itself in the silent inter-
course of sympathy between great
bodies that constitute the great ma
tons"
The only real opposition to the con.
stitution of the league of nations
comes from those who want to know
what this nation would become COM
mitted to as a member of such league
on that point the people of the Uni
ted States will not be stampeded
They will not act in haste, because il
is too important to their future. The
president himself says we shall be
called upon to yield some of our ma.
tional rights. Let us know just wha'
rights we are to yield.
Also let use be mindful to hedg
about our agreements so carefully tina
we shall not learn later that We have
signed away our nationalism to an in.
ternationalsm in which we. would
have only a small voice.
The a yfist who 1lspd to sing before