The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1919-03-22
KEEP DEMOCRACY SAFE AT HOME

Those thirtyn n senators who served notice on the
president and ON the peace congress in Paris that the proposl
ed agreement for a league of nations as brought back Dyl
the president would not be ratified and that the first ana
immediate lob on which the world is waiting is a treaty
of peace that will end the war-that notice seems to have
been heard in Europe, even if it had no ERECT On our own
self-appointed head of the American delegation. Word comes
from both Paris and London that a preliminary" peace treaty
will be submitted for ratification and that the peace league,
if any, will be included in the final pact.
In the meantime those thirty-nine senator's, who were
described by the president at a luncheon of the members OIL
the democratic national committee as "pigmy- minded ana
whose "heads only served as knots to prevent their Dodles
from unraveling"-those senators have had their numbers
increased until they now, in spite of the party whip, constl-
tute more than a majority of the entire body. There were
two additions reported yesterday. One of these was Sena-
tor Chamberlain, democrat, and in the last congress chair
man of the senate ommittee on military affairs. In the
last week Mr.. Bryan has declared that while he accepts it
he wants it revised; and Champ Clark, leader of the
presidents party in the house, has said enough about the
league to place him in the category of those whose heads
serve as knots to keep their bodies from unraveling."
Meanwhile also an organization has been formed to oppose it
throughout the nation, even in spite of Secretary Daniels
proclamation that opposition is equivalent to treason, and the
head of this organization will be that distinguished dean of
American journalism, Henry Waterson, a familiar figure in
democratic councils for half a century.
The country is awakening to the fact that not
The only assault on our Institutions lies in the constitu-
ton of the proposed league as submitted by the president, but
in the minds of many there is even a greater menace in the
attitude of the president toward the legislative branch of the
government.
1t is beginning to dawn on the country that it is just
about as important to save the congress and to save the con-
stitution Of the United States as it is to save the doctrine of
Washington and the doctrine of Monroe.
X q q
The Tribune has once before quoted from the warnings
of Mark Sullivan, Golfers correspondent in Paris, than whom
the president has had no more loyal supporter anywhere I'M
til the fruits of his diplomatic mission to Paris began to ap-
pear. Mr.. Sullivan was among the first of the Americans to
warn the senate that since it was not invited in it was its
unacceptable duty to butt in. Here are some of Mr.. Sullivan's
most recent observations, referring especially to the many
Wilson "triumphs' and victories" reported to us daily while
the president was in Europe:
One wonders whether the people at home v stop to
reflect o n just what coin Mr.. Wilson is paying for these vic
tories of his. 1t is never by any chance a victory for Amer
lea" America is o getting any victories. That is not
Americas role It this conference. Do the people at home
vel stop to wonder just what goes on. implied or expressed.
in the negotiations which end in the concessions to Mr. Will
son? Do they imagine that Mr.. Wilson wins these "triumphs'
by the charm of his personality?
4
If they could have any sort of close contact with the
shrewd and able type Of European statesman who turns up at
a conference like this. they would know that he is about as
sensitive to charm of personality Is he is to the color of Mr..
Wilson's neckte. Do u people suppose these things re
all accomplished by the persuasive power of Mr.. Wilson's
eloquence. Men like M. Clemenceau, who is seventyeight
years old and has been in and ut of the chamber of dep
uties eve since 1876; and Mr.. Lloyd-George. who has been
in parliament since his twenies-these lei have listened to
a good deal of persuasive eloquence in their time. Seriously
suppose our people ASSUME that it is the holiness of Mr..
wilson's ideals that commands allegiance and wins his vic
Most of the countries of Europe nave popular suffrage
as well as the United States, and if Mr. Wilson's ideals were
the things that Europe wants o than it wants other things,
then Europe would quickly get them from her Owl politicians.
1t is inherent in the nature of things-and the fac is
obvious to is here in Pars-that Mr.. Wilson does not get
these concessions without giving something for them. And
the things that he must give are not any personal possessions
of<his. They are the property of the people of America. They
are goods of ours, privileges of ours immunihes of ours,
traditions of ous.
OF course the principa, thing, o at least the most OBJ
y0us thing that Europe coyets and which Dr. Wilson is trad