South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-19

Of welcome at Boston TO President Wilson on his re-
trip from France said:
we welcome him with a reception more mark
ed than even that which was accorded TO General
Washington, united than have been
given at any time during his life to President ABB
rahanl Lincoln. w welcome him the repre-
sentative Of great people. as great statesman,
as one to whom we have entrusted destiny and
one whom assure will support In the future
in the working out Of that destiny Mnssa-
chuSetts has supported him in the past"
But Gov. Coolidge did reckon with an offended
group whose advice" according to it's in
depreciation of the constitution the president should
have sought more promptly and more formally than
he did.
Mr.. Taft the leading authority on the League and
as sincere had in political life, IA
vored ratfying the final draft without
without delay
But republican party politicians saw that II they
did that Mr. Wilson would seem TO be another George
Washington and the democratic party might win the
coming election and perhaps stay indefinitely
II NOT SINCERE
ACT WAS CRIMINAL
II these sincerely believed that by opposing or
belitthng the League they periodically saving
their country from a terrible mistake they had a per-
feet right TO protest. If their motive was merely to
help dscredit Wilson by discrediting League which
they, with Mr.. Taft believed be a great boon for
criminal
That there certain percentage of sincerity in
of their criticisms cannot be doubted Each
voter must make up his mind for himself what
that percentage and is. % no good for
me TO impugn motives to insist the correctness
OF own diagnosis. will only say that repub-
leans who best fitted TO judge the League and
sincere, notably Taft strongly dfsapproved
of the attitudes assumed by Senators Lodge Knox
Johnson Brandegee Borah Harding etc; that their
attitudes often inconsistent with their previous
statements, mat many of them frankly say in private
conversation that
only Of polidcs-to win the election Of l92O-presi-
dental ambitions OF several senators, hatred of
son. and offended senatorial dignity for not having
been invited TO Paris.
l. is fair if the republican senators were
wholly sincere would have expected their findings
to have been sustained by the democrats But the
republicans scarcely got any support from the
democrats except from one senator who had long
standing personal grudges against Pres Wilson
1 mention all this not because intent on prov
ing that the fault wholly senator's and not
with Pres Wilson (Vho is blamed for vetoing the Knox
resolution declaring Peace for asking senators
TO vote against multiplying reservations distinct from
interpretative ones)
stumbling block in the OF the League the dspo-
son TO accept the senator's statements value
The voter who sincerely and periodically wants 10
DO MS duty at the polls, should beware. Let him
think for himself not take his opinions second
hand from people who have many grind.
This being said shall waste time defending Mr.
Wilson because in the first place he the candi-
date bcause' in the second place, his record speaks
for itself; and because in the third place there may
be modicum of truth back Of some of the things
which the republicans say about him.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Is ONLY ISSUE
Even If the Wilson record were as bad as is paint
ed by his worst the only part which vitality
concerns this campaign is the League Of Nations 1t
Is the League not Mr.. Wilson that is the the
League must stand or fan It's merits opinion
of Mr. Wilson.
Before the blight of politics had come the senate
August 2Sth, 1916, by unanimous vote passed a
requesting president TO take. the lead in
such a world movement as the League Of Nations In
February, 1919, the first and tentative of the
League was published and opportunity was given TO
all to submit criticisms. William H Taft offered four
amendments; Elihu Root six Charles e Hughes
seven. Most Of these were incorporated in the final
draft. At the White dinner to the congress
sOnal committees foreign relations the president
specifically asked advice" In a debate between
Pres lowell and Sen Lodge in Boston, Pres Lowell
asked Sen. Lodge to send his suggestions Paris
Lodge refused He refused accept even Mr.. Taft's
proposed compromise although ratification would have
thereby.
The treaty Of Versailles was submitted by the pres
ident to July 10 1919 The first vote came
November 19 when the reservations proposed failed
for lack of a two-thirds majority The true
March 10 1920. The resolutions terminating
OF vetoed May %.
1t took about three times long for our deadocked
government to do nothing It took allies draft
the whole treaty OF seventy five thousand And
the senators at first complained Of the slowness
peace negotiations.
When the senator's began their discussions the
It, it has been born and all other eligible nations OF
consequence (thirty-seven) have joined it.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS 80.
Is NOW FACT
The League of Nations is longer a plan but fact
All the nations Of the earth of any consequence ex-
cept Germany, Austria, Russia, Turkey and Mexico
already members. So 1 know none of the
thirty-seven nations members OF the League made
any reservations although the League the subject
a heated debate in Switzerland because the Ger
Switzerland joined after a popular ref
erendum May To- 1920. resulting in a 4I4.s3O
for and 322,939 against This result is remarkable
when We consider that the German swiss with en-
couragement from Germany conducted a most active
campaign against entering the League thirds
Of the Swiss German speaking French speaking
vaud poIed 63.2s4 for and $500 against mixed Frei-
bourg 2O,0s0 for and 6,1O1 against. German Zurich
$50 for and 66,SS7 against German Americans are
likewise, opposing the League this country.
The League is a going concern administering the
valley and the city OF Danzig, conducting a pub
lie health campaign 10 shield the world from typhus
and other diseases, and for the elimination OF the
do ffor1af Iaho