South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-18

ing not only a burning but a
living issue by camouhaging and
obscuring the real issues will
not deceive the people.
THE processes by which the Chi
cago platform was accomplished
seemed to me to have been essen
TALLY and scientifically Prussian in
inspiration and method. Instead OF
quoting Washington and Lincoln. the
republican platform should have
quoted Bismarck and Bernhardi, be-
cause the republican attitude re
garding the supreme issues that can
not be abandoned or disre egarded
strongly suggests the arbitrary in
tluences that dictated the doctrines
| of those two eminent persons.
CamoufIage.
Every charge directed against me
and my administration is obviously
designed to becloud and negative
| the paramount issue confronting the
people of America and to befog
their sense OF responsibility and
make violation of the Obliga tions
! they have assumed 10 be OF small
consequence. ! sincerely believe that
the attempt OF the republican party
to win the sanction of the American
people for its attempted evasion OF
these obligations will be decisively
rebuked. With one thing ! am fully
satis6ed-this is that the republican
party in its platform has joined me
in the suggestion made in my let
ter 10 the guests at the Jackson day
dinner in Washington, last January.
In that letter 1 expressed the hope
that a sincere attempt would be
made TO determine the attitude Of
the American people on the League
Of Nations by the resort 10 the
genuinely democratic process Of the
referendum.
Let People Decide.
"Of course / have no way OF an
ticipating the probable trend of sen
! timent that Will be expressed IN
the democratic national convention
at San Francisco or forecasting the
ultimate conclusions Of that body.
But l have every confidence that
: the delegates who will sit in that
convention viii repeat the challenge
I issued to the republican party and
express their readiness 10 permit
the people 10 decide between the
league and ambiguous declarations
by the republicans and q positive
and definite expression Of opinion
by the democratic party. Whatever
else the democratic party may do.
hope that its convention at San
Francisco will say just what il
means on every issue and that IL
Will not resort either TO ambiguity or
evasiOns in doing 50.
This thing (the League OF Ma
tions) lies too deep 10 permit Of
any political sculdoggery. any at
tempt 10 sidestep or evade moral
an humanitarian response b4lity
much too solemn 70 treat so lightly
or ignore.
Keep Americas Word.
'T should prefer at this time not
TO discuss partisan politics or 70
venture any prediction as 70 the
probable attitude that the demo-
cratic convention Will take on any
subject. I sincerely believe, how
ever, that the vast majority Of gen
item en- who VIII sit IN the San Fran
cisco convention will appreciate the
necessity and permanent value OF
keeping the word that America has
given 10 the rest Of the world
THE thinly yelled rejection OF the
principle OF the League OF Nations
by the Chicago convention viii not
fool any one. The attitude OF Sen.
Lodge and that Of Sen. Johnson diff
fer only IN degree. Both are really
opposed 10 Il in any form one Of
these gentlemen is disingenious and
evasive and the other is candidly
hostile"
World FavoTs League.
1T must be a trife discOncerting
TO some republicans. he added. Ito
have their party propose now 20 re-
pudiate that which was approved a
few years ago by some OF their most
important leaders. I am as conf
dent today ss was when 1 returned
from Paris finally in July last. that
the people OF not only America. but
OF the entire world. are in favor OF
the League OF Nations: that they
would feel a greater sense OF secur-
ity II its benefits should be guaran-
teed. that they would not approve.
with their votes. of the policy OF the
republican party which IS wholly
political in intent and purpose 10