Norwich bulletin., 1920-01-09

 William J. Bryan split openly with President Wilson at the Jackson din- ner here tonight, on the question of whether the democratic party should make the League of Nations an is sue st the next election.
 The former ecretary of state, three times a candiGate for the presidency, and q power in his party, declared the democrats could not go before the country on the issue and that they must accept such compromises as may be possible.
 President Wilson. in his message to the diners had declared that the clear and single way out" was to submit the issue.
 ssnate's Course Right. |. Conceding the right of the republi- cans 10 dictate the senate's course, MT. Bryan declared:
 Our plan has been rejected and we must face the situation as it is. We must either securt such compromises as may be possible or present the is sue 10 the country. The latter course would mean a delay of at least four teen months and then success only Q case Of our securing a two thirds ma jority Of the senate.
 
 zeas or as members of the party, to share with the republican party re- s9onsibility for further delay; we cannot go before the country on the isue that such an appeal would pre- ssue 4 ma iority Of congress can declare war Shall Es make it more difficult to conclude treaty than to enter war.
 Three New Propositions.
 Reviewing the past and surveying a programme for the future, MT. Bryan said he ventured to suggest three new propositions They were:
 4 national system Of roads. extend ing in every state. to be known as n national peace way,' both as util- 3tarian project for binding the states together in commerce and intercourse, ard as Q memorial as well to the soldier dead
 A national buiietiu-not a newspaper Mir. Bryan deciared-to present na- tional issues under bipartisan con- troi.
 The initiative and referendum. which he declared the democratic party might well adopt as its next great reform"
 Mir. 5ryan's Speech.
 AIr. Bryan's speech in part was as follows:
 seldom has such an opportunity for great service come to any party as TOW presents itself to our party. But opportunity brings responsibility Much is required of those to whom much is given soldier is a soldier until his day of opportunity comes after that he is either a hero or a coward. So with the party, oppor- tunities improved become stepping stones to success; opportunities neg lacted arc miilstones about the par tvs neck.
 'The opportunities now offered are as large as the nation and as wide as the world In this hour when we take council together for the coming cam- paign it is the duty of each member Of the party, as I take it, to present the situation as he sees it, without stopping tG inQcire whether his views are shared by others.
 Opportunities as Bryan Sees Them.
 Permit me, therefore, to present the more important of these opportunities as I see them. The nations are en- terins upon a new era: old systems are passing away; democracy is dawn ing everywhere Our nation is the only great nation in position to fur nish the moral leadership required. The nations of Europe are busy with their own problems; our people are the only ones disinterested enough tc be trusted by all, and the democratic party is the party whose ideas best fit 1t for the task of leadership in such g work
 A democratic president was the spokesman of the. United States ir holding out to a war worn world the hope of unievrsai peacA and he .N- 1,,. or a league of nations that provides means for settling international dis putes without resort to force. He did the best he could, and succeeded better than We had any right to ex- pect, when we remember that hC fought single handed against the sell fish interests of the world.
 ''The republican party, in control o1 the senate. instead of ratifying al once or promptly proposing changes that if deemed necessary has fiddleC while civilization has been threatened with cOnfagration. It could hay, adopted its reservations as well fvt months ago as later, but it permitted endless debate while suffering human. fly waited. seaA
 Democrats Must Face Defeat.
 ''The democratic senators stood witt the president for ratification withou reservation, and Is stood with them believing that 1t was better to secur, within the league. after it was es tablished, any necessary changes, thai to attempt to secure them by reser vztions in the ratifying resolutions But our plan has been rejected and VI must face the situation as it is. w must either secure such compromis Ss as may be possible or present tn isue 10 the count-y- The latter cours would mean a delay of at least four teen months and then success only il case of our securing a two- thirds ma jority in the senate.
 To Avoid Further Delay.
 We cannot afford. either as citi zens or as members of the party, | share with the republican party re sponsibility for further delay; " cannot go before the country on tn issue that such an appeal would pre- rent. The republicans have a major ity in the senate and, therefore, ca, by right dictate the senate'S course Being in the minority, we cannot de mand the right to decide the term upon which the senate will consent t ratification. Our nation has spen Iso, 600 precious lives and more tha twenty billions of dollars to make tn world safe for democracy and the on fundamental principal of democrac Is the right of the majority to ruI,