Arizona republican., 1919-02-26
The Presidents ChalIenoc

The president evidently despars of securing con- sressional approval Of the League of Nations and proposes take his directly the people from whom approval may come the result of a refcren- dunn through pressure cxcred upon their represen tatives in the senate His Boston speech indicates this purpose to the heads of the and may therefore be regarded widening mpasssbity the breach that exists between tho president and the other treaty making power.
 What might result if the people were to pass upon the question is hard to say. If were submitted d- recy. there might be added the party strength Of the president sufficient strength from the repub- party it's endorsement but if the pres- dent should depend upon popular pressure we fear hat tho obiecting senators would not be greatly moved.
 Tho fact appears 10 be that the great mass Of the people not deeply interested in the matter. What they feel not in the League of Nations itself but tn the conflict that has grown it. so that their alignment is very much the it would have been other issue had arisen between these two CO., o-ordinate powersg
 The people in the hardly be expected Co entertain the ideals which have inspired the presi- dent while abroad which for years have inspired Mir. Taft and many other leaders at home We can disguise tho fact that peace is a rather abstract thing and cannot fire the populace as war did. The outcome of campaign before people would depend upon the in which the question will be pre- sentcd to them
 They will 10 something more than a glorious picture They will want 10 know the con- crete results what effect such an alliance vii have the United States rather than on the whole world Tor believe that in this country as in every other inc national spirit is quicker in consequence of Inc We arc certainly more American than we were two years ago.
 There must be no blundering in the argument in favor of League of Nations such as that in which senator Lewis indulged Monday in replying to what is perhaps the strongest argument the oppon- ons Of the league have offer league on prin ciplc That argument is that can have no guaranty that the United States would not be brought into a Tinost disadvantag geous position by other members of the league; that time would come when we would hc outvoted and under the elastic provisions of the covenant many things would be forced upon us which could not bear
 The guaranty which Mr. Lewis nsively offered is ono which accentuates the danger which previously 10 most of ms. seemed vague and unalsrmng We are secure said Mir. Lewis, because with the South and Central American countries our side we could al- ways outvote the European and Aasatic members of the league; that is, We could dominate them. Here Inc idea of domination is made to stand out
 Now that their attention has been so called to it. we do not think many citizens of the United States would care to rest upon such slender support as Mir Lewis describes the loyalty good will of the South md Central American countries. We might trust Brazil and Argentine perhaps Chilli But we would always be distrustfu of Mexico and generally the South and Central American republics which have for half century managed skllfully to dissemble their love foo us AS matter of fact Americans we be-