The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-08
Nations
TheGreateSt Issue
By DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright, 1919, by The
Intelligencer.)

WASHINGTON. D. C.. Jan should
President Wilson discuss the treaty
aght in his letter 70 the Jackson day
dinner of the Democratic party, which
is being held here coincidert with the
meeting OF the Democratic nanonA
committee? Two views preVal.tnoSe
who believe that the silence Nhlch tne
prnsIdent has maintained since tho pact
failed OF u tvo-thirds vote IN the iast
session Of congress should NOT oe
broken at q purely partisan gathering.
but TO the senate, and those VINO say
the Republican banquets and poltlcai
meeting recently, including the Ohio
xocisty dinner at New York. have given
the Impression that the president -
standlnS out against the so-called
AufericaniZing OF the treaty and League
by reservations and should use Inc oc-
cnsion 10 explain his position.
Just what the president will say is
n secret, for the simple reason that ne
will reserve till the last minute the op
portunity to open his thoughts TO the
marty the Democrats arc putting up an
even livelier front than the Republicans
when they were here for their national
committee meeting recently: PossioIy
II Is because the Democrats have sort
Of free for-alI contest on, and perhaps
such veterrn fguFes as William Jen-
nin1s Bryan and Senator Oscar Under
wood and Senator Gilbert NJ. Hitchcock
ana Attorney General Palmer. an OF
vsutions Of recent years very interest
ing.
Anyway. the Democrats have man
aged to work up considerable interest,"
IN the national capital, and each and
every candidate for tho presidency or
his {rtands are on the Job talking about
issues. personalities, treaty light and
what not. In contrast To the Repuoh,
can meeting, ~$heFe 1t was considered
dtyiduRIB and concentrate on party
harmcay. the Democrats reveal the very
opposits--a talkativerSss about every
thin {.
nearly four hours Of (which is
planned at the banquet, which, oy the
way, Is 70 be held IN two sepA-ate hotels
10 accommodates the overfloW-thcrs
Twill be plenty of politics released DC
fore the week Is ever.
The Big Issue.
But while Mr.. Bryan talks about So--
ernment ownership and argues against
any reduction OF taAcS on biz business
and hits al the proposed abolition OF
the right of railway employees TO strike
there stands in the background the ols-
gcst issue OF all--thc league OF nations.
President Wilson Is TRADING on deli-
cate ground. There are RCpuolcanS IN
the senate who would like nothinS oe,-
ter than pronouncement from Mr.. Will
son which would enable them 10 say
he is making party matter OF the
treaty controversy, aud that the oeSt
think 20 do Is 70 settle II III the next
campaign. Senator Lodge himself has
said that. while the Republican party
would not take the initiative in max
Ing the treaty a party issue, ne ana MS
colleagues welcomed the opportunity TO
carry the matter into the campaign.
The "irrcOcc1Citahic$. IS the group -
called which IS lrt,u; on killing the
treaty and lea cie altogether, are striv-
ing hard TO got thH treaty into the cam
paiEn. being confident that as time goes
on and the people become familiar with
the intriCacics Of no question they
will vote gor the Tcn who openly favor
rejecting the treaty.
Trying to Peel Confident
On the Democratic side one finds the
other kind OF confidence and analysis or
the status OF public opinion There are
Democrats who say that while they are
and that The people are irritated over
various Instances Of mismanagement
and incficienCy revealed by members
OF the Democratic administration, the
desire TO get the treaty ratifed and
normal business conditions established
would give the Democrats strength
from large numbers of tho American
people who If voting on domestic az
fllrS alone "ouIQ nov tnlnh OF SuppOil-
tnc the Democratic ticket
II IS therefore slowly becoming evi-
don't that on both the Democratic and
Republican side there isn't such re-
luctlnCe 10 let the treaty become an
'>Suc. unfortunate AS the result may
be sor Europe and the world at large.
Democratic SURRENDER"
But, as remarked before In these
Columns, the two old tine parties are
considerably more interested in their
success this year than in anything
else. The move beng made by thr
Democrats 10 compromise the treaty has
IN Il elements OF camoutlaGe. The Re
puhlicans smiitngly call the Demo-
cratic ofrer surrender" But az the
same time hesitate To say they will
accept H. There - some suspicion that
Athe Democrats would be surprised and
Adumbfoundtd " n" Republicans did
acrept II. and that they are hoping that
fhe Republicans will pile Zip a record
IAf refusing 10 compromise so as 70
hake good uaterial for the campaign
-