The Benson signal., 1920-03-20

| we most desire to be associated in the
tasks of peace" And then he added
the surprising statement that the mill
| taristic party of France which was
prevented from getting the upper hand
during the peace conference is in con-
troll there now. In evident allusiOn to
Vincent Grey's letter. he says he is
mot willing to trust to the counsel of
diplomats the working out of any sal
walton Of the world from things which
it has suffered"
Quite naturally, Mr.. Wilson's refer
enceS to French policies annoyed the
French government and enraged the
French people. 1t was reported that
Ambassador Jusserand had been in
structed to ask our state department
for more explicit explanation of the
presidents meaning.
That the presidents letter sounded
the knell Of the treaty was the gen.
eral opinion, for while there were
some further feeble efforts at compro-
mise, the senators prepared them
selves for final fight in which it was
believed enough Democrats would be
rallied to the support of the president
to prevent ratification with reserva-
tions, provided the "irrecoEcilable"
Republicans voted with them.
The inSurgent Democrats, most of
whom are up for reelection this year,
are inclined to think Bryan was right
when he said the party could not af-
ford to go before the country on the
issue of article 10, yet that is the pros
pect that confronts the Democrats.
And If that is made the issue, it is
predicted that Mr.. Wilson will be COM
PEELED to reconsider his reported de-
| ciSiOn not to seek a third term. OF
the administration Democrats who are
after the nomination Attorney General
Palmer is the only one who is trying
to capture instructed delegations, and
Of course if his chief determined to
run again, Mr.. Palmer would have to
stand aside. The Others like McAdoO,
have been cOntenting themselves with
keeping their names before the public
and advising the sending of uninstruct-
ed delegates to San Francisco.
Many of the Republicans welcomed
the chance to make article 10 the is
sue Of the campaign, the irreconcil-
ables especially being pleased. The
situation served to boost the stock of
Senator Hiram Johnson considerably.
Two of his colleagues, Kenyon Of Iowa
and Norris Of Nebraska, promptly an
nOunced that they would support his
candidacy. "The president has made
the ISSUE" said Kenyon. "It is arti-
Gle TO- Let the fight come. Let the
Democrats nominate Woodrow Wilson
under the white flag of International
ism and the Republicans nominate Hi
ram Johnson under the Stars and
Stripes of Americanism."
SO far. however, the main contest
ants for the Republican nomination re-
main as before, General Wood and
Governor Lowden. Both have made
considerable progress and also their
managers have succeeded in stirring up
good deal Of bitterness in some
states, notably Illinois, where the Low
den men thought the Wood forces were
trying to trespass on their preserves.
When Frank Hitchcock became active
ly engaged in the Wood campaign it
was believed this would assure for the
general the support of all the south
ern states, where Hitchcock built up
a smoOth-working machine when he
was postmaster general. But this
idea received a jolt last week when
the North Carolina state convention
Endorsed the candidacy Of Judge Peter
| G. Pritchard.
! Herbert Hoover has done something
to make clear his political affiliations.
| In letter to California admirer he
says it is well known that he was
progressive Republican before the
war, and that he is now an indepen-
dent progressive.
The presidents commission for set
tlement of the coal mine labor troubles
was unable last week to formulate a
unanimous report as Mr.. Wilson re-
ouested, but one was forwarded to
the White House, signed by Peale, rep
resenting the owners, and Robinson,
representing the public. White, repre-
senting the miners, refused to concur.
The Supreme court of the United
States dealt the national treasury
rather severe blow last week when
it decided that stock dividends of cor
porations are not taxable as income.
The government will be compelled to
return a huge sum-maybe as much as
500, O,0O0 000-already collected. Many
corporations that have been accumu-
latiDg big surpluses have been await
ing the decision to "cut melons"