El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-01-12
LET CONGRESS END THE WAR;
LET PEOPLE DECIDE THE LEAGUE

DRESIDEET WILSON disappointed his party and the
country When, IN his message to the Jackson day
semby he failed to state his position to third term
His silence this important matter has brought
newed speculation his intentions and placed pros
pective candidates under restraint many quar-
tiers the opinion prevails that the president purpOsey
omitted reference his plans order force the
On the treaty. Reading between the lines it requires
great stretch OF the imagination 10 see IN the message the
inference that the League Of Nations is TO be the para
mount issue in the campaign Nj, Wilson may ask his
party for denomination.
M wilson's proposal that the treaty issue be sub
ted to the peope the only fair solution Of the prob
lem The verdict Of the nation should be obtained before
any such radical departure is made from traditional
national policy is involved IN the ratification Of the
treaty Of Versailles the pact stands Advocates
Of the treaty and its opponents alike should coneede that
the VIII Of the people snoud guide the nation IN It's for
sign policy, as wen as IN domestic affairs.
This does not mean, however, that the state Of
should continue for another "A months pending the cleo
ton Of senate The League of Nations is estab
hshed fact The allied powers going ahead with their
program without American participation The league VIII
still be IN operation after the American voters have regis
tered their decision the verdict is for the league
the United States can be admitted then as well as now
The weak point IN Mr. Wilson's position is that he
fuses any Of compromise, pending the peoples
dict @We rsWIte the treaty. the president says
eve must take it without changes which alter its
ing OF leave it, In still other words you must have my
treaty or none"
In his statement Mr. Wilson offers no argument
against immediate declaration Of peace He has made
known his opposition to the plan but has offered alter
native the acceptance Of the treaty in its present form
He certainly realizes that the latter program impossible
IN the present senate. Knowing this, he willing
the country should continue under war status for more
than year
Fortunately the president has met opposition within
his party. Mr. Bryan takes the practical view that
Democrats cannot afford to face the country with Tespon
sbiy their shoulders for failure to officially close
the He sees situation which must be faced, and
clearly arrays himself against the presidents proposal to
delay action until 1921.
There but practical way to meet the stu
aon if probable, the IS be fought
ont at the polls Let the treaty stand is for the
peoples rejection approval but at put the country
peace footing through the passage Of resolution de-
cang the between the United States and the central
powers end Congress has power to declare var; It
certainly has tie power to end
With the nation at peace necessity would exist for
hurried decision the great questions involved IN the
treaty Of peace The people could calmly study the pact
and render judgment Years have been taken discuss
ing issues Of far less import before reaching final de-
dsion-
President Wilson'S position Is untenabe both the
the country 10 permit declaration of peace and he
third term
Those Of who remember the prune and bran diet,
see IN the boom for Hoover opportunity to get even
Civilization has progressed to the point where most
men look around for minute before they spit.
In international crimes the statute Of limitations ap
plies only when the vTOngea forget.
Prohibition, with an its faults has ssHosd the whisky
tenor.