New-York tribune., 1920-09-12

have followed =; original French text,
which is by u ..vcrsal recognition the
official language of diplomacy?
America would have had to acquiesce
in the demolition of her cherished
doctrine. or go to war, contrary to her
own solemn pledge to sustain that
doctrine.
Monroe Doctrine Endangered
Zone cannot help wondering wheth-
er the whole thing was trap to des-
troy the good American doctrine of
Monroe, to which this republic has
been committed for more than CEN
tury. 1t is impossible to believe that
the English version was intended to be
an exact rendering of the French. no
one will consent to believe it was meant
to be identical in purport. In short,
we we're starting out with an ambiguity
which, in itself, might readily be the
first basis of controversy and involve
us with the nations of the old world
One wishes to be both charitable and
considcrate, but it is hard to believe
that this very marked discrepancy was
perpetrated without intention. Clearly.
either America is being deceived or the
representatives Of America have sought
to deceive the nations with whom we
propose to covenant our peaceful as
sociations.
II do not believe the President would
have knowingly been party to the de-
ception of his own country, and will
not assume to say that the commission
crs of other lands have deliberately
meant to dupe US; but there IS mani
fest misunderstanding in the very be-
ginning, which. in any business con-
tract, would have to be clarified before
any prudent business man would sign
Senate Avcrts Danger
"Wherever the fault may lie,
whether it Is the fruit of duplicity or
the failure of intelligent understand
ing, it is very clear that only the Sem
ate's demand that the Monroe
Doctrine be explicitly recognized saved
this country from highly dangerous
controversy, and probably has saved
the doctrine from complete extinction
Those who advocate Americas accep-
tance of the league covenant ought, in
all seriousness, to bring forth the ox-
planation of this shocking ambiguity
of contract. | only point it out to en-
/. phaslze the fact that the acceptance
Of the league covenant, as negotiated.
which the President and the Demo
cratic nominee for his successor, have
urged upon us 'in complete Accord
would have meant the surrender of one
OF the precious nheritances of this
rcpubl1c, or in all probability would
nave involved US in controversy with
other nations and destroyed our peace-
full relationship.
1T Is purely a matter o1 business
prudence, therefore, that we propose
TO cllng to our freedom in inter-
national relationship, and enter upon
only such compact CT perfect clarity
as will permit us to play our part
in bringing about disarmament and
commit the consciences of nations to
maintained peace. Nobody is propos-
ing to hold aloor from the onward
PROCESSION of humanity. On the con-
trary, 1t is our part to be conspicu-
oas Ia. leading to new achievements.
We mean to lift the voice of Amer
lca to outlaw war and satte contro-
VERSES between nations as become
the devotees of peace. In seeking this
great advance, we do not mean to be-
GIN on foundation which is of itself
an encouragement to controversy, but
we want to start with that clarity of
understanding wherein we know Amer
lea is right and which may hold us
resolute and unafraid"
Music for Candidate
The Chicago delegation was intro
duced by William Nelson Pelouzc, a
brothcr-in-law of William Hale Thomp.
son, Mayor of Chicago. The Indiana
crowd brought with them a number of
singers, whose fay i've tune was "On
the Banks Of the NaIash." A piano
had been placed en- the front porch,
and 1t was thumDed until it became too
dark to distinguish The keys, after
which couple cf saxophone players
provided music while the Senator