Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-19
New u S. Fleet Starts For Pacific Ocean
WILSON STEMS
TIDE AGAINST
WORLD LEAGUE
Succeeds in Putting Foes
On Defensive-Much
Depends On Tour.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright 1919 by The Argus)

1913 Dy Inc ATRuSJ.
Washington, D. c., July 18.-
President Wilson has temporarily
stemmed the tide of opposition
which was running high against
the League of Nations prior to his
return from France. But he has
by no means set at rest the cur
rents in the United States senate
which insist upon reservations,
however iLnocuous in phraseology,
as the price of their acqquiescence.
Thus far Mr. Wilson has sought
out Republican senator's known to
be friendly to the idea of the
league, senator's, too, without any
particular personal feeling against
the president over domestic poll
tics. With those men he has dis
cussed every phase of tn Paris
negotiations, giving them the at
mosphere and background of Paris
and Versailles, the circumstances
under which it was necessary to
compromise and even concede in
order to bring treaty of peace to
an impatient world.
Calls Greatest Foes Later.
Supposedly irreconcilable oppon-
ents like Senator Borah, Johnson
and Lodge are to be called into
conference later. Mr.. Wilson has
chosen first to pave the way for
conquest of the opposition by heart
to heart talks with those Repub-
licans who have shown a disposi-
ton to look at the peace question
from a judicial and not a party
attitude. Senator Knute Nelson of
Minnesota, although staunch Re-
publican, has again and again
voted with the Democrats on the
federal reserve act and other pro-
gressive measures. Senator Kel-
logg, his colleague, also a Repub-
lican, has openly said after a trip
through Minnesota that the people
favored the league.
1t will be remembered Mr.. Will
son almost carried Minnesota in
1916 by his appeal to the intense
peace desire of the middle west and
sentiment is not believed to have
since changed substantially.
Senator McCumber, who comes
from North Dakota, citadel of the
NOnpartisan league and hot bed of
radicalism, is a conservative SEN
ator with an ear, however, to the
pacific sentiment of his cons -itu-
ency. He was one of the earliest
to announce that he favored the
league covenant with or without
changes, but some international
concert to execute the peace treaty
and start the process of reconstruc-
tion. 1t needed no argument from
Mr.. Wilson to convert him. But it
was an evidence of changed Lolicy
on the presidents part to show
appreciation to Republicans who
openly cooperate with him.
Colts Stand Jars League Foes.
Senator Colt of Rhode Island was
formerly a federal Judge. His
speeches on all public questions
have been statemen-like and broad
gauged. He is much less of a parti-
san than many men on the Demo
cratic or Republican side. This is /
generally believed at the capitol
to be due to his training on the
bench, his inclination to approach
questions from a judicial rather
than political point of view. While
he does not say he will accept the !
league without reservations, his |
firm defense of the principles of the !
league did somewhat nettle its op- |
ponents and bring them to realize |
that Mr.. Wilson was slowly chang
ing the situation which existed be- !
fore his arrival from F1rance-his |
opponents are being placed on the |
defensive while he himself is TAX |
ing a vigorous offensive.
Senator Jones of Washington has !
not taken the position of deter
mined and unqualified opposition to /
the League of Nations which has |
been consistently adopted by his /
Senator Poindexter.
Reports to the president would !
seem to indicate that the state of /
more nearly favors |
the Jones than the Poindexter view. !
This makes it possible for the pres !
ident to approach Senator Jones as |
he does Senator Colt with an ap- !
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