Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1920-01-10

issue: it conceived in partisanism. What
ever igh-sounding utterances Mr.. Wilson have
given forth as he was about to sail away for Paris
first time, there cannot be the slightest doubt
that he desired make the results of the peace
conference rebound to the advantage of the demo
party, any rate, to the democracy of Mr..
Wilson just endeavored make the world war
a instrument the safety of the democratic party
of the United States represented by him, well
for the safety OF democracy throughout the world
SO. from its inception the League of Nations
partisan issue and think that disinterested,
clear thinking persons will difficulty in
determining how and when it became That,
however is for its rejection. We do
know how many senators there who would
ject it on that ground. No doubt. of the four
teen irreconcabes. exclusive of the three democratic
irreconcilabes. conscientiously opposed to the
treaty, with the covenant So suppose.
Of the rigid reservatonists. But those who oppose
il for other Mr.. Wilson is urging
it. are as narrow and culpable : he.
Nhatever may be the circumst ances SURROUNDING
the birth of an idea Well birth o a man:
however ignoble Legitimate the birth the idea
or the man may be. the idea the may be
worthy one and should be stigmatized by birth.
Neither Mr.. Wilson the republicans can keep the
attention OF the people focused the stigma
which was attached to the League Nations. The
republican politicians, big and little the demo
cratic politicians big little will of course re-
gard the issue as purely partisan; would the
yellow dog" members of both parties for and
League of Nations as and bAcans. the
yellow dogs"
But the great majority o the American people
are not yellow dogs" To many them, the League
OF Nations whether they think it beneficent propo
ston or a danger harboring proposition is bigger
than either party and bigger both. Mr.. Bryan
is no doubt convinced elections that have
been held of the attitude of the the
democrats OF the south and the west toward the
covenant and the treaty, they presented TO
the senate by Mr.. Wilson. He. therefore, wants no
experimentation with that issue n so vital a cam
pasn national campaign.
He correctly reasons. we believe that the thing
that has been voted on in such elections
held. and which be voted on in a national
campaign is not the principle League of Nations
but a question OF Amercanism. lie is under no
illusion to how the people would vote on that
question And that is what the democratic party
would have to present if it should attempt 10 offer
the League of Nations issue. The republicans.
whether honestly have substituted that for
the principle of the League Of Nations and are hop
ing that Mr. Wilson, in his obstinacy force it
before the voters for determination.
Another thing that Bryan perceives is this: the
great mass of the people not and have not been
greatly interested in the principle league They
are, though, deeply and vitality interested in a final
and early disposition of the controversy somehow
they may not much how. They have in one way
and another shown their Impotence with the ropub-
hcans who in the early treaty considerations
appeared to be interposing unnecessary delay. What
he wonders. would the people think party which
should now stubbornly reject compromise and con-
cession and interpose delay of fourteen months
Moreover, an adverse vote would mean a complete
and final rejection of the covenant
What democratic national convention will de-
eide between the divided o Mr. Wilson and
MI Bryan cannot be predicted. The president or
dlnarlly, has the power to give the national con-
vention any complexion he chooses. 20 direct the
platform and to the candidates Whether he
can force the League of Nations an issue in this
instance is not certain. The southern elections that
nave been held and the incidents OF the presidents
September tour will democratic party leaders
hesitate.
Moreover Mr.. Bryan for twenty years has been
closer to a larger number of member of his marty,
than any other and in that quarter of century
ne mas been the cearest interpreter of their thoughts
and much of that time a moulder of their thoughts