Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-01-10
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

TIE past week has witnessed the
inGst important political develop
mtent i'll q good many months in the
evidence of anjopen breach between
President Wilson and his former sup
porter, William J.. Bryan. The diff
ference arises over the disposition to
he made Of the peace treaty. TIT
president sent a letter to h Demo
cratic national committee to be read
ut the jackson day banquet ON
Thursday evening, reiterating his for
mer uncompromising attitude on the
treaty, and urging that If 1t cannot
be ratified now in accordance with
his desires, it be made an issue in
the approaching campaign and sub-
mitted to q solemn referendum"
Mr.. Bryan. on the contrary, while
declaring his approval Of the treaty
a. it stood. pointed out that its rati-
fication without reservations had
been shown to be impossible, and he
urged hat the best compromise pos
sible be made and the treaty be dis
posed of on that basis. That there
aretmany Democrats who do not APP
prove of Mr.. Bryan is quite well
known. But MI. Bryan has on sew
eral occasions demonstrated that he
is able to exert a highly important
influence on the actions Of the Demo-
cratic party, and it nay be recalled
that he vas a decidedly important
factor in the first nomination of
Woodrow Wilson for president.
II there were no other factors to
consider, the attitude of Mr.. Bryan
on the treaty might not be important.
But the presidents position on this
subject has for weeks been becoming
more and more one of isolation. Party
and personal loyalty held senate
Democrats fairly we'll in line for his
program long after that program had
become IN impossibility, out of late
even those considerations have failed,
and the demand for compromise has
been made with constantly growing
insistence by Democratic senators.
The country demands action. and ac-
ton is not Forthcoming. And, fol-
lowing the declaration of Democrats
of the type of Gerard for compromise,
we have the unqualified challenge
now made by Bryan.
sNf Tho a~va1nnnnpSc of thn uvaok
therefore, make it certain that re-
doubled efforts will be made to ar
range q compromise resolution I'm the
senate Immediately, with the certain
IT, that if this is not done, or that,
such a compromise having been made
and having been rejected by the pres
dent, the peace treaty will be the
great issue before the Democratic
; convention at San Francisco on. June
rs. with two conflicting programs be-
ing supported, the one by Wilson and
the other by Bryan. No indication
mas been given as to the attitude OF
either of these men With reference to
a, Personal candidacy, and while the
state Of Mr.. Wilson's health seems
to preclude the possibility of his third
candidacy, there have been stranger
things under the sun than a contest
the two for the party nom
nation.
The Democratic committee has Sc
lected San Francisco as the place for
the June convention. This will be
the first nominating convention ever
held by n of the great parties on
Pacific coast. The tendency has
been to- hold these conventions near
the center of the country, although
there have been numerous exceptions.
Mr.. Wilson'S first nomination having
been made at Baltimore: The selec-
ton OF San. Francisco was doubtless
due in. part to the fact that In 1911
California, by a narrow margin, de-
cided the election for Wilson, and the
ommtttee may also have had the
presidential aspirations Of CALIFORNIA;
Republican senator, Hiram johnson,
in mind.
The week has also. witnessed the
formal closing Of the steel strike.
which began late in September, and
which has been practically over for
snl11e time. The steel strike was the
result of the working out Of the am
bilious plans OF William q. Foster,
who has hoped, by the Organization
OF the steel workers. and his control
o1s them, to inject a larger element
2 Is radicalism into the American Fed
,erAtton OF Labor, and to continue the
g OF influencing that organiza-
lion toward radical and reyolutionarv
rtsthods by the rocess OF .brtnz
from within Foster and his asso-
GATES declare it to be their purpose
fo@continue the work Of organization,
tg the end that greater strength may
IRE GAINED for any struggles in the fu-
sssrc h situation. therefore, 70 not
sA q peace but one in which radi-
aiEsTn has merely subsided for the
;nSn5nent inAsorder to lit itself better
1tsthe nset fight.
s#S6Sxsnleas something entirely unfore.
eeyelopes. the lsne-delayed ex-
ssgepee y ratificaticns Of the peace
Se4e ill have taken place before
el1s pasleraphs are IA print. This
s112aaaN9 80 to have taken place q
Aeo. but was DELAYED because
4neempistsness of certain de
S3q bst TIN present ayrangefnent d
e. fornlality q taxe placs On
: afsssnoon ma tttsI it "a.