The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-09
BRYAN SPLITS ON
LEAGUE AS ISSUE
WITH PRESIDENT
Takes Opposing Attitude on
Question of Putting QueS-
ton Up to Voters in 1920
Presidential Campaign.

WASHINGTON, Jan. .. (By the Asso-
clated Press. William J. BRYAN split
openly with President Wilson at the
Jackson dinner here on the question
q whether the Democrats should make
the league Of nations an issue at the
next election. The former secretary Of
state declared the Democrats could not
90 before the country on the issue and
that they must accept such compro-
misses as may be possible.
Mr.. Bryan's speech follows:
Seldom has such an opportunity for
great service come 20 any party as
now presents itself TO our party But
opportunity brings responsibility Much
IS required OF those to whom much is
given. A soldier is a soldier until his
day Of opportunity comes-after that,
ne is either a hero or coward. So with
the party opportunities improved be-
come stepping stones to success; OPP
portunities neglected are mill stones
about the party's neck,
The opportunities now offered are
as large as the nation and as wide as
the world, In this hour, when we take
council together for the coming cam
paign, 1t is the duty of each member
Of the party. as ] take 1t, to present
the situation as he sees II, without
stopping to inquire whether his views
are shared by others. One can not call
mass meeting TO determine what TO
think: the theory OF democracy is that
all think and give expression to their
thought and then conclusions are
reached by comparison Of views.
Permit me. therefore, to present the
more important of these opportunities
as | see them, The nations are enter
ing upon new era; old systems are
passing away; democracy Is dawning
everywhere. Our nation Is the only
great nation in a position to furnish
La. H.
tons OF Europe are busy with their own
problems; our people are the only ones
disinterested enough to be trusted by
all. and the Democratic party is the
party whose ideas best fit it for the
task Of leadership in such a work
Wilson Spokesman.
"A Democratic president was the
spokesman Of the United States in hold
ing out to war-worn world the hope
Of universal peace. and he brought back
from Paris the covenant of a league
Of nations that provides means for set
Ting international disputes without a
resort to force. He did the best he
could, and succeeded better than we
had any right to expect, when we re-
member that he fought single handed
against the selfish interests of the
world.
THE Republican party in control of
the senate, instead Of ratifying at once
or promptly proposing changes that II
deemed necessary, has fiddled while
civilization has been threatened with
conflagration. 1t could have adopted
its reservations as well five months ago
as later. but it permitted endless de-
bate while suffering humanity waited
The Democratic senators stood with
the president for ratification without
reservation and l stood with them, be-
lieving that 1t was better to secure
within the league, after 1t was estab-
lished, any necessary changes than to
attempt to secure them by reservations
in the ratifying resolutions, But our
plan has been rejected and we must
face the situation as it is. We must
either secure such compromises as may
be possible or present the issue to the
country The latter course would mean
delay OF at least IA months and then
success only in case of our securing a
two thirds majority in the senate.
I'VE can not afford, either as citi-
gems or as members of the party to
share with the Republican party re-
sponsibilty for further delay we can
not go before the country on the Is
sue that such an appeal would present.
The Republicans have majority in the
senate, and, therefore, can by right die
tate the senate's course Being in the
minority, we can not demand the right
to decide the terms upon which the
senate will consent to ratification. Our
nation has spent 100000 precious lives
and more than twenty billions of dol
lars to make the world safe for democ-
racy and the one fundamental principle
of democracy is the right of the ma
jority to rule 1t applies to the senate
and to the house as we'll as to the peo-
pie. According to the constitution,
treaty is ratified by two-thirds vote,
but the Democratic party can not af-
ford to take advantage of the consti-
tutional right Of a minority to prevent
ratification. A majority of congress can
declare war. Shall we make it more
difficult to conclude a treaty than to
ont sr n war;