South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-04
Too Vital PIankS in Democratic Platform i'm
And One Out-AS Indicating Real Spirit of Party

- EMoCRATS from New York. New Jersey.
Cincinnati. Chicago and-South Bend,-and
- elsewhere, who have been prone to construe
liberty as license, and liberalism as looseness
welcome to all the consolation they can get out
of the San Francisco platform in behalf OF their
light wines and beer" subterfuge likewise their
wanted promise Of a weakening of the volstead
act. repeal OF the 18th amendment They got
promise OF nothing.
Considering the democratic platform with par
ticular reference to the vital issues before
national convention-the League of Nations the
liquor questionable delegates at San Francisco
have done remarkably well. Pledging ratification of
the Versailles treaty with only reservations to
the League Of Nations covenant, as interpret with
multiplying the document, is much Pres't
Wilson has asked. In statement given out
last Jan. sth he said:
There can be no objection to nterpreta-
tons accompanying the ratification. but when
the treaty is acted upon must know whether
it means that we have ratified it or rejected it."
The claim that he has insisted upon ratification
from the start. without the dotting of an 'i' or
the crossing OF a It" is not, never has been
true It Is a republican invention. In our judgment,
however, the democrats would have had easier sail
ing. had they gone to the people with the League
upon that basis instead of seeking hedge
around with interpretations. which needs none.
being plain in import the nose mans
face to the who will take the trouble to study
it and his own brains free from the poison of
political controversy
OF course. however, David l. Walsh OF Massa-
chusetts- and Thomas }. Walsh OF Montana United
States senators for the republic" of Ireland had
to be heard, and listened to- with an ear no doubt
the Irish-American vote, such loquaciousness
quite bound ring in something that would open
up wide range Of discussion both from the stump
and editorial sanctum: much that
quite imagine lot OF editors-both republican and
observation-disclosures themselves partial to
October vacations.
Defending promoting the League OF Nations
covenant IS thing. but when IL comes either
promoting defending "interpretatve reservations
IT, without the text OF those reservations hand
to interpret.-and particularly II they are to
left in any TO such men Dave Walsh Tom
Walsh, Hoke Smith, Tom Gore Jim Reed, then
it becomes quite a different thing. These voted
for the Lodge reservations and some OF them for a
separate peace None of them should have had
whit voice in the convention than was given
TO Reed,-but at that 1t does not mean that VIII
son has been repudated. or that the League has
been repudiated. On the contrary it that in
accordance with the presidents statement OF Jan
s. when the treaty IS acted upon" it will be in
such manner that the world may know it means
that have ratified rejected it"-quite different
than the Lodge reservations allowed the repub-
lcan platform promises
As TO the liquor issue. refusal to incorporate
into the platform, the plank proposed by the light
vino and beer" nullifcationists. ought be sufl-
Gent notice TO Candidate Barleycorn to his IN
popularity. make him tired OF his running while
on the other hand, 10 the Bryan-Hobson dry"
panks. political sagacity have dictated that
II the party OF "hOlier than thou" could AFFORD 10
adopt subterfuge on that subject and the chair
man then lose It between the platform committee
room and convention hall. rather than offend the
wet" vote. It happened in Chicaso-democracy
could do BY purrosely. openly. and avowed-
IL keeping silent the subject 1t leaves the ques-