South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-26
Other Editors Than Ours
THE LEAGUE AND A THIRD TERM.
MOuisvilIc COurier-,JOurnaID

Woodrow Wilson be candidate for third
term next year?
That is d question generally asked now and an
zwered in various ways. from categorical the
conditional
The New york World publishes Washington dis
patch which says the president himself will answer
il when ne returns to the United States declaring
that ne will make a definite public announcement
that under circumstances will he be candidate
for reelection
Explaining why he has not already made such
announcement the dispatch says:
outlined this program a number OF demo-
cratic members of the foreign relations and foreign
affairs committees occasion of the dinner which
ne answered questions about the League Of Nations
There has less mystery about
that occasion principally due 70 the cir
cumstance that MS statements about MS candidacy
confidential while his replies the questions
concerning the Paris negotiations were meant to be
told broadcast
nouncement that time. He wanted the undivided
attention support OF the leaders for what
ne regarded the vital thing in the modern
history OF America. He hoped that the personal am
billions Of democrat would start currents
that might develop rivaries that would distract
the of the leaders of sentiment and confuse
TIE public opinion.
AS long as there was a possibility Of the presi-
dents being the candidate, nobody would
paigns FOR the other fellows and the OF the
country would remain conferred the big question
AT the time he made them understand that
when the time came ne would step out of the
and leave the nOmina tOn 10 the best man
But this answer which begins categoriCally
enough ends decidedly in the conditional
class Tn other words under no circun-
stances will the president be a candidate unless the
opponents of the League OF Nations force him into
the contest. When" the Worlds correspondent
he presented tho treaty TO congress. and the
of the League OF Nations is behind in history the
announcement will be made-unless the backhre
started by the round-robn signers continues blaze
II the republican majority in congress think there
is political capital baking the League Nations
10 will be inviting Woodrow Wilson stay in the
has to so on to the people over the heads
nf ron ha rnatr ha 4
There is no doubt that most OF the republican op-
position the league of Nations is partisan. en-
eendered by desire to diminish the prestige of
democratic president Nor Is there any doubt in the
Courer-Jouruals mind. that If these gentlemen
reach the conclusion that opposition the League
Of Nations would furnish them a winning issue in
1929 they will defeat the ratification of the
If 10 be i'm their power TO do Their in de-
feating IT, or in indefinitely obstructng its ratihca
zion. would certainly precipitate a winning for
somebody and as certainly 1t would make Wilson
candidate for reelection If anything could
II is likely. however. that these republican pot-
clans Of the senate will do considerable bordering
before they force the League Of Nations
into the next campaign. They will ponder well the
probable sentiment of the country on such an issue
and they Will ponder further ACCESSIBILITY Of risk
ing the possibility OF another campaign by the pres-
they Wilson hardly less than they hate
him. and they fear him they fear other
If their hatred much stronger than their fear
that they decide 10 take the risk. IT. "A a result
their estimate O the country's attitude on the
League of Nations and third term they conclude
that 1t would not be very much a risk. their
ability 20 block the league treaty and the creation
OF league issue with Wilson standing its cham
pion would result in campaign Of confused
rents and currents unprecedented in our pol-
tical history. The question OF League of Nations
party question. II republicans shall attempt TO
make party question they will be una Die 10 mar
shall their forces on one side % n Neither is
the question OF a third term "A party question and
II should be asked TO settle both questions
same election 10 would ue impossible 10 have the
lines sharply drawn on either question. they
should Ice when either Is IN issue. But 10 is safe 10
predict that the league question would
the thlrd-term question that the aid which Oppo-
the league might receive from opponents or
third would be very much less than the aid
which advocates or the eague would receive from
opponents OF a third term.
would be unwise far the republican par
tlsans smoke ponderingly that. would
be- wiser sul if they should determine 10 smoke the
pipe OF peace though the peace include the
League OF Nations covenant