The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-07-06
ASTRIDE THE FENCE

Al II were ever possible to say that
the Republican party's national con-
vention at Chicago was hampered be-.
cause there was more friction and
faction than harmony. it is doubly
true of the Democratic gathering at
San Francisco. So acute has been the
factional fight at San Francisco that
the selection Of Democratic stand
ard bearer was buried tor almost a
week while the platform committee
waged war and tried 70 construct a
safe and sane, constructive program
upon which to go before the Ameri-
can voter who is beginning to show
a few symptoms of cra1tiness and an
inclination to refuse BEND hoodwink-
Cd congestion dished up for his con-
sumption. With Bryan on the ground
and Wilson. with a long powerful arm.
reaching from White House, represent
radically diverse views ON important
issues, It was Impossible that harmony
should reign at San Francisco.
chicago saw sharp conflict. but
1t was largely conferred among those
who sought to nominate their particu-
lar favorite candidate. There were
few major differences relative to party
issues which had to be smoothed out.
At San Francisco the situation has
been exactly reversed Interest has
centered and the conflict has waged,
not around presidential aspirants, but
around party issues. And Just to that
extent has the integrity of the Demo
cratic party been more generally
threatened than the Republican.
Upon the league OF nations plank,
particularly, the Democratic platform
gives evidence of the estranged condi-
ton Of the conflict which prevailed at
San FRANCISCO.
In reality. no Democrat can be
pleased with the attempted concila-
tory plank which was adopted. The
Republican party is committed to sup
port league OF nations when reser-
vations protecting American rights
are incorporated in It. In declaring
that the Democratic party has no OBJ
lection to planks which will make the
pact clearer and more SPECIFIC as to
American obligations and sovereignty,
the Democratic convention placed its
stamp Of approval on the Lodge reser-
vations. To make it doubly clear that
this was the intention of the party, the
proposal of an Armenian mandate for
the United States was specifically dis
approved.
OF course, Mr.. Wilson dominated
the league of nations plank. In gen.
eral, it follows closely the typical
Democratic stand ON the world or
ganizatioh. 1t will be recalled, how
ever, that sometime ago, Mr.. Wilson
asserted that he had no objection to
certain features of the proposed res
eravtions but he never committed
himself specifically as to what he
thought permissible to include in the
covenant. Republicans reel, and they
have right to feel, that the Lodge
reservations have not other intent than
to preserve the integrity and sover-
eighty of the United States. And the
issue comes back to this point. What
constitutes protective reservation
which will not impair league functions
or Aemrican participation in the work
the league is expected to perform.
The Tribune. has long contendei
that it was impossible to make a liv-
ing issue of the league of nations for
two reasons, one that the public gen.
orally was Disguised with the quarrel
which conferred in the league, the other
that it was impossible for either of
the two major parties, embracing such
diversified views among their own
leaders, to take a definite stand in op-
position to contrary and equally
specific view taken by the other party.
The party platforms indicate that this
is true. So far as the league of ma
tons is concerned, Republicans ad-
mittedly lodged the issue. Demo-
crast did exactly the same thing. And
there the matter rests