The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1919-10-10
A BIG ISSUE.

Until the peace treaty and it's League
! Of nations rider is disposed of It will
continue to be the biggest issue before
the American people, but the most
vital problem which will have to be
solved in the next few years, after the
treaty Is out of the way is the Ques-
ton of capital and labor. 1t is casting
its ominous shadow over the country
already and it doubtless will domin-
ate all other questions in the coming
campaign, though mere election will
by no means settle it. But we will face
that issue when the decks are cleared
of the other. In the meantime it is up
to every American to give his best
thought and most sober consideration
to the document that the president
is so eager to have us accept exactly
as it was written at Prais. Since it
will be disposed of one way or another
before the next campaign, there is no
reason why it should be regarded as
a partisan question by either republic
cans or democrats. The fact that the
president advocates it does not neces-
sarily make it doctrine of the demo-
cratic party, any more than the fact
that the opposition to it is lead by
Lodge makes of that republican doc
trine.
There is not a strict party division
in the senate on the question, nor is
there strict party division through
out the country. Many republicans IA
vor adherence to the advice of the
president, while many democrats are
strong for reservations, amendments
or rejection.
There can be no doubt in anybody's
mind that opposing sentiment, has
grown rapidly in this country since
teh discussion of the document be-
gan in the senate, and that fact alone
is justification for the delay. 1t is
justification simply because it demon
strates that great many. if not a big
majority of the people, had not made
up their minds on the question or
were hesitating to decide only because
of lack of sufficient information as to
what is involved in the acceptance or
rejection or modification of the instru-
ment.
1t is not a controversial proposition
to contend that if the league of ma
tons covenant is as clear, as straight
forward and as desirable as the presi-
dent has asserted from the start, there
can be no valid objection to scrutiniz-
ing it with all possible care. II It will
stand the test of careful analysis
there is nothing to fear so far as it's
supporters are concerned. If it will
not stand the test, then all the more
reason for taking time to submit 1t
to investigation.
Both sides admit that it proposes
the biggest departure in national pol
icy that this country has ever con-
templated. That being the case, it
would be the blindest sort of folly to
make the decision before all the peo-
pie have had the fullest opportunity
to determine upon the wisest course
regarding it. And that decision can
not be arrived at without the freest
and widest possible discussion. If 1t
had done nothing else since it's crea-
ton, the United States senate has JUS
tilted its existence and thoroughly es-
tablished and confirmed the profound
wisdom of the trainers of the consti-
tuition in providing second and more
sober deliberate body in the congress,
by it's refusal to be rushed blindly in
to approving this pact without debate.
1t has conferred an everlasting SER
vice upon the country by compelling
the president to take his case before
the people. None should be quicker to
recognize this than the president him
self, and none should be SO ready to
make acknowledgment of the fact.
There is no need to discuss the
league provisions with intemperance
or in any other than perfectly can
did frame of mind. 1t is fraught with
such far reaching Importance to
America that Americans should be
able to consider it without mixing
their customary partizan prejudices
in the question. OF course that is a
difficult thing to do in this country,
or any country for the matter of that,
but certainly it behooves us all to try
to be candid with ourselves in this
particular instance.
Ordinary people on either side do
not care if the leaders of opposition
are cross-eyed; If they are dyspeptic;
If they are ugly or comedy, or anything
else about their personal appearance
or personalities. What the people want
to know are the facts about the league
of nations covenant, and calling names
or ridiculing opponents is not going to
give them that information.
And when either side offers them
facts about the league, they want to
know that what is offered are in truth
facts, not opinions, or fancies, or