Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-26
Organize, Standardize, Advertise
and Patronizs Maine products. This
slogan Of the State Agricultural
and Industrial League 10 a pretty
good one for the people Of Maine to
follow.
America Next!

On December S. 1918. the ship
George Washington sailed for France
bearing President Wilson to the
peace conference. Very soon after
the armistice he had made public his
intention Of going, and Immediately
lined up the country's opinion as to
the wisdom Of the trip. In spite of
a general spirit Of opposition he de-
cided to go, saying that on certain
features of the treaty he must be
definitely consulted. This was
tantamount to an assertion that
either the European members Of the
conference had not intelligence
enough to understand what was to be
done so far as the United States was
concerned. or that such delegates as
should be appointed from the United
States would be incompetent. He
also said that he must interpret the
IA points which he had previously
laid down as the only possible pro-
gram" to be followed. On November
10 his press agents reported him as
deeply interested in the application
in the framing of the treaty of the
principle of the freedom of the seas"
The plan for a league of nations was
also mentioned as necessary in his
mind for securing the future safety
of the world.
These were his main reasons for
taking himself out Of the country at
a time when the country needed 4
President if it eve did to guide it
from the lines of war to the paths Of
peace. He counted his presence in
the peace conference to which he had
not even been suggested as a dele
gate of more Importance than the
performance of his duty to the
United States of which he was ind
is the duly elected President and ex-
.ecutive head.
He. has been in France nearly six
months, and has. presumably to his
own satisfaction, done all he went to
do, since the press agents invariably
record. president Wilson's diplo-
matte victories" He has lone far
more. but as kipling says: that is
another story" The point is that,
having done what he went abroad to
do, he should now come home. and
give at least 4 least of attention
to the welfare of the United States.
The peace treaty has been made
and presented to the Germans for
their signature, a matter between
their delegates and the president Of
the conference, NJ. Clemenceau. NJ.
Clemenceau is fully competent to
handle the situation we feel sure.
If the treaty is not signed. matters
pass to the control of Marshal Foch
of whose ability we also have no
doubt. The continued presence of
Mr.. Wilson in Paris is distinctly in
the udIuIS VI du dHtl.Cl1I1dA. ne
has nothing further to gain for him
self or his country or any Of the
ideas he promotes. He is no longer
in the center of the stage, and as the
eX-star. his reluctance to go off is
little short Of ludicrous. 1t is now
acknowledged by all those who
favored his ~oirg to Europe in the
first place that it was a mistake.
J it necessary that he make the fur
her mistake Of staying? Let the
President come home and attend to
the duties Of his Office. Let US have
no more of this anomalous situation
Of a nation with no executive and
few department heads.