New-York tribune., 1920-06-18
Wilson Defies
Republicans
On the League
Continued from page one)

America. but of the entire world are in
favor Of the League Of Nations; that
they would feel a greater sense of Sc
curty if its benefits should be guar
anteed: that they would not approve
with their votes of the policy of the
Republican party which is wholly DO
| ltical in intent and purpose: to deny
them the protection that the League of
/ Nations assures.
Confident of Party
81 am extremely confident that the
1 Democratic convention at San Fran
cisco will welcome the acceptance by
the Republican party Of my invitation
to make the League of Nations the
issue Of the campaign. am even more
confident that such referendum will
confirm my faith that the American
people desire it above anything that a
political party may now provide, and
that they will condemn the Republican
tion of their hopes. No one will vel
come referendum on that issue more
than l."
The President appeared to take it rs
a matter of course that the manifest
purpose of the Republican party will
be to condemn by specific act the more
important policies of his Administra-
ton. He chuckled while discussing
some of the features of the platform
adopted by the Republican convention
at Chicago.
The Republican Congressional policy
was more significant for evasion of
Joint responsibility in graphing with
the problems that confront the country
than for any moral appreciation of the
responsibility itself. Republican lead
ers in Congress cried aloud for the re-
peal Of some of the measures which
they we'll knew protected the people
from more serious evils than they
would have the country know.
The Lever food control act has
proved to be one Of the most effective
agencies in preventing depredations
at the expense of the people than al
most any other measure now in opera
ton.
"Republlcans chorused ponderous
note of protest against the administra-
tlon and enforcement Of the espionage
act and some other measures that were
OF vital necessity during the war Time
for repeating it is not yet Vet defy
the Republicans to prove that the
power given the government during the
war has ever been unjustly used
against the people; that a single citi-
zen has been fundamentally punished
against the nation; that any man has
been punished for pressing his opin.
ION. have read charges to the CON
trarv. but in each instance have had
the matter thoroughly looked into, and
am III position to contest the accu-
racy of any statement that the rights
of single citizen have been uniustly
invaded
THE United States Senate has for
eleven months had in It's hands the
power to end conditions that are un-
mlstakably irksome to a great many
Of our citizens because with the ratiE
cation of the peace treaty the opera
ton OF laws that were enacted to safe
guard the interests of the country in
the war would automatically cease
As long as these laws are on the
statute books they must be enforced
They have been and are being enforced
with as little injury TO the welfare of
the country and rights Of individuals
as possible. don't know that | would
even care to defend any policy that I
have deemed essential to the fullest
protection Of the national interest.
That would he TOO much like Offering
an apology where one is not needed
| do not believe that my course calls
for an apology Of any kind.
"The Republican and not the Demo
cratic policy has been responsible for
any bad effects that have resulted from
the failure Of the Republican Senate
30 ratifv the Versailles Treaty and the
covenant Of the League Of Nations
The Republican policy Of negation has
been persisted i'll for the sole purpose
Of advancing Republican chances for
s,,rn,nlng the coming Presidential cleo
,'on and has never reflected a sincere
desire to amcliorate the effect Of meas
ures adopted for protecting the country
in time of war. The Republican rolicv
has been rather to cxaggerate the Of
feet Of these measures
Roots Status Vague
asked the President If he clearly
understood the exact status of Elihu
Root. whose arrival al London was
chronlcled in the press Of Monday.
The dispatches from the British met
rorlis declared that Mr.. Root, who is