The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1919-05-11
Live Issues of the.
! Day
wood, a Presidential Possibility.

/ Wood, Presidential Possibility.
/ Philadelphia North American.
a few days after the sudden death
| OF Theodore Roosevelt an ex perl
enCed political observer remarked 10
! us that no single incident had ever
| changed so greatly the political con-
| ditions and prospects of the two
great parties The tragic deaths OF
! Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley, he
said. caused no such profound renc-
| lions as the passing OF this private
citizen.
! II Colonel Roosevelt had lived, our
| friend went on, he would have been
compelled TO stand as the republi-
\ can nominee for the presidency next
Year. And in that event President
] Wilson would have declined third
1 nomination. for he never would have
| Joined issues with the man who at
| first stood almost alone among the
countrys leaders OF thought for pre-
| paredness. undiluted Americanism,
! the v!ndication OF national rights
! and the preservation OF international
law. The triumph OF the republican
party. through tho candidacy OF
Colonel Roosevelt. had seemed as
sured.
But he had left no logical sue
| cessor. there was no man who was
clearly tho inherltor of the great
leaders prestige and influence. He
had been the veritable embodiment
or the faith which alone could re-
vitalixe and perpetuate the party OF
| lincoln, and there seemed none 10
| take his place. Mr.. Taft and Mr..
Hughes had not measured up to the
situation, and neither had any deep
| hold on public sentiment. The re-
| publicans In congress, even the
strongest OF them. had failed to inn
! press themselves upon the country,
/ and. through lack OF courage or mis-
guided IDEAS OF patriotism they had
acquisced in, had even supported.
autocratic, un-American admlnis,ra-
tIon policies.
with Roosevelt removed-we are
continuing "A summary OF the Views
expressed to us-the center OF grav-
ity had been shifted suddenly from
the republican to the democratic
side. President Wilson, having COM
| pletcd his triumphal tour OF the Eu-
ropean capitals, whore he had been
acclaimed as the leader who should
| restore peace and justice to the world
was nt the pinnacle OF hi sfame No
| statesman had ever occupied so ad-
vantaRcous a position. for II lay with
| him to present to tho conference OF
| nations a plan which would go far
| to insure tranquility and relieve
| mankind from the burdens and hor-
rors OF war II was not safe, we
| were warned TO assume that be-
cause he-had never had a construc-
tive program for ANYTHING. he had
undertaken this supreme task with
out one. From the beginning OF the
conflict his overmastering ambition
| had been to stand before history as
| the final arbiter and dictator or
! peace, and 1t was conceivahle- that
for the first time in his public ca
reer he would be able to offer a def
inltc plan. not merely vague prin-
ciples and admonltions.
In this country the doubts created
by his spectacular peace trip were
already giving way to more favor
able sentiment, reflection OF the
extraordinary greetings given to him
abroad, and if a durable peace
proved really 10 he the product OF
his genius, his fame and influence
would be overshadowing Having
all the advantages OF position and
opportunity. he probably would be
his party's nominee for n third term
1t seemed to the observer against n
republican opponent who could have
no comparable claim upon public en-
thusiasm and support.
IL should always he kept In mind,
We were advised, that the next pres
ident would be man who had been
conspicuous figure In the war; for
| American political history shows that
war Issues. In some form or other.
| dominate presidential elections for
years after the close OF a conflict
Two months later our observant
friend carried his analysis further,
to cover Developments in the in
terval. President Wilson, his cere-
monious appearances as an illus
trious visitor having ended. had been
confronted by the realities OF the
peace conference. He had Ntlined
in general terms his demands and
ideals. but, to the astonishment and
dismay OF European statesmen, had
proved wholly unprepared TO offer
a definite program for realizing the
eNtravagant expectations he had
aroused among the war -burdened
peoples Therefore they turned hur-
riedly TO the task, and some 40 plans
for league of nations were drafted.
That framed by General SHUTS
modelled upon the structure OF the
British empire, was the most com
prehensive, President Wilson adopt
ed II. and, after II had been slightly
modified, but with no attempts to
safeguard the vital interests OF the
United tSates, he gave Il his an
proval. and announced that there
was good and sufficient reason for
the phraseology and substance OF
each article" This attitude he main
tained during his trip to this coun-
try and after his departure
Publaction of the covenant arous-
ed the republicans from their cowed
Inertia. and strong speeches OF pro,
test were delivered by Senators Poin-
dexter and Borah. Later. after
President Wilson had failed TO jus-
tlfy or even lntelligently explain tho
document. Senators Cummins. Knox
and Lodge riddled its pretentions
and exposed It's pitfalls Mr.. Wilson
remaining obdurate In his purpose 10
defy the senate and reject all amend
ments, a final declaration was neccs-
sary and this took the form OF n
resolution, signed by 81 republican
members, which doomed the coven-
ant 10 defeat unless II recognized and
protected American rights.
Thus the issue was sharply drawn.
and the nation was aroused rs II
had not been rince the outbreak OF
the war. In the view OF our eN.