Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-03-21
LEAGUE OF
As Our Congressman Elect Inter-
prets the League of Nations and
the Political SituatiOn-An Am
b.tiOns Program Well Planned

Hon. c. J. Thompson, representa-
tive in Congress, from this, the
Fifth Ohio Distr ct was from the
first of February to the seventh of
March in the east; visiting Washing
ton where he was on the floor of the
House and attended the Republican
Caucus, also IN New York and New
England: In consequence he has had
opportunity to observe and gather
information as to the trend OF public
opinion and possible future political
movements. From recent letter
we quote. the follow ng which seems
TO US significant as coming from Mr..
Thompson and worthy of careful
cons deration:
The argument for world leagae
OF nations seems to be all on the
negative side. In other words. it is
an argument for an experiment; Il
hope. We hope it VIII do so and so,
but that is as far as we can go. We
do not know what it will do until we
try it. The talk that the Monroe
doctrine is enlarged and not abro-
gated is identical. Under the Mon
roe doctrine the United States has
existed 100 years. We have been
passive with South American Re
publics. When revolutions occurred
in South America or Mexico, we
stood by and did not jump in and
irtefere; but we did say to Euro
pean and AS attic powers-hands Of,
keep out of this western hemisphere;
do not NEEDLE.
As the iight begins to dawn it
seems that under a league ofnations
our country would be an agent in
stead of being its own boss. Should
the league bosses, or rulers, direct
us TO step into South American
affairs to quiet revolutions. would be
not have to obey? Under the lea
que Of 1ltions could we not be used
as a collection agency in Mexico by
european powers and maybe direct
ed to go in and set up a stable
iorm of government?
If, as President Wilson says, all
the world trusts America, why not
let il go at that? The world now
knows that America will fight when
she needs to and other nations
would be slow to go into war with
out reckoning what posit on this
country would take.
It has been four months since the
a-mistice was signed. The people
of Northwestern Ohio whit a treaty
cf peace gned and agreed to and
their boys brought home God knows
thew are needed on the farms of this
mighty agricultural section which is
an important part of the bread bas-
ket a. the world. Let us make
peace with Germany. A treaty of
peace is a contract with a country
we hive been fighting. A league IF
nations leaves Germany out. Peace
is important first. The league of
nat ons proposition would keep; but
President wilson who represents
Ameica-the country that all Europe
now reckons with-has gone to
Europe-not to pleld or urge. but
to demand end exact that his ideas
shall dominate as to the league of
nat ons. In MAY or June he will
rturn to Americn with a draft of the
League of nations in his pocket;
then the program is to stump the
United States and arouse publ c
sentiment; the next step will be to
call Congress together and by the
aid Of public sentiment endeavor to
force It to rat fy and confirm the lea
gue as drafted by him. Should the
Senate refuse TO ratify, and the lea
one fail. then he will be a candidate
for re-elect on TO the Presidency for
a third terml Should the league be
ratified he doubtless hopes to be-
come its first president and retire