South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-01
MAY /. 1920.
WHITTIER IS DEMOCRACY HEADEDp

tion between the mild anti Wilson democrats under
Sen Oscar Underwood. minority leader. and
:he Lodge reservatonists apparently calculated TO
coerce president into resubmission of the Paris
treaty with promise of acceptance OF the "coalited
terms OF ratification Of the League OF Nations is the
omnous thing today lowering at the political
horizon. Il will mean a distinctly democracy I'm
America. perhaps OF necessity under new name.
but democracy that Is forward loo. ing. rather
than backward looking and a democracy with vi
sion rather than blindness There are millions Of
democrats followers OF woodrow wilson who Il
they must surrender to the republican anu-wilson-
ism, Likely to go it better. and surrender
also their anliation with those democrats whose
weak spnes. and quest for post Offices and demands
for "EostmasteriaT campaign contributions seems
10 be the main thing in provoking the Underwood
movement 20 reflex action.
The republicans will meet in Chicago in mid-June
and 10 days later the democrats will meet in San
Francisco The future Of both the democratic and
republican parties will depend much upon the plat
forms put forward in those conventions and the
didates put at the those tickets. The repub
leans will repudiate III Johnson about the only
on the republican side of the honest enough
to make distinctly anti-League fight, and will
nounce itself for League of Nations with reser-
vations" hypooritcally framed TO feign protection
20 American interests" but really intended to put
the League by such indirecton exactly where the
Californian would put it by directon-out OF bust
ness so far the United States IS concerned. The
democrats have already forced Sen. Hitchcock to
step aside in the senate where he has stood like
stone wall for Prest Wilson's policies and there
indications that his successor. Sen. Underwood.
inforcsd by Vice Pres't NJ arshan william Jen-
nlngs Bryan. are intent upon reputation of the
president only the floor of the senate, but at
and hot au1af will he nut for
ward practically like that proposed by the
o. T. Such a contamination bodies anything but good
20 the republicans democrats either One-and we
speak OF the democrats especially.
Democracy should remember this year that l.
600 former bull mOosers, the real progressives
OF the bull moose movem ent voted for Woodrow
in 1915. and with the democratic party, and
mainly because Of Woodrow Wilson. That army Oe
1900 600 voters which really reelected him in 10
stands today shoulder to shoulder among the
presidents staunchest su pporters; stands with
him. by him, and for him. from principle.
not from party. and any reputation OF the presi-
dent by the democratic Earty, this League of
Nations business. will mean the desertion Of the
party by just that many 1916 followers least
and dare say a great many more. The back
ward lockers to Jefferson. Jackson ana Cleveland
unable 10 sense the changed conditions since their
necessity Of improved processes of dealing with
them may be able to control senates and conven-
tons repudiating the party's leader. but they will
not be able TO control his followers; may be able
TO lead the horse TO water but they cannot make
him drink.
Neither is it necessary to desert the fundamentals
OF democracy adhered to by jefferson and Jack
son. in order to keep up with the times. Funda-
mental democracy even Of the most virulent Jeffer
sOnian sort never anticipated standing still those
fundamentals The people can do what they please
with their government. oentralizing it or not at
their Will and expanding or contracting freedom
As they choose. Mr.. jefferson It into the
Declaration Of Independence himself that whenever
any form OF government becomes destructive OF
life. liberty and the purs nit Of happiness. the
people f. eft right Of the people to alter
abolish H. and 20 institute q new government lay
Ing Its foundation such principles and organizing
it's powers IN such form" as they may fit That is
democracy. Leave IL to the people under such sys-
tens OF government they may up This Is a
representative democracy. Neither Jefferson nor
Jackson favored such a Simon pure democracy for
America they have in Switzerland and the very
democrats who are yelling for return to what they
call Jshersonisn and Jacksonisn. are the farthes
IN the country from wantin direct democratic action
as governmental system.--save perhaps on the
18th amendment.
The gentleman who presides over the senate the
minority leader on the floor. the wattersons.
Harveys etc over the country. might we'll be care
suI OF how they play with this anti Wilson FIRE The
jump from Wilson 20 Hi Johnson is a considerable
jump; just as far as from real League Of Nations
10 no League Of Nations but there lot Of peo-
pie ready to follow a League who would rather
make the whole jump. than fall half way between