The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-06-06

Wilson kept us out of war;" contin-
ned bis administration another fou
years But now we have come % The
parting Of the ways.
Instead Of domestic issues and
problems confronting both parties, the
issues now are largely international
and worldwide. Americas new rela-
tionship to the whole world has pre-
cipitated new problems which have
never confronted US before. The con
ventions to be held will make and out
line the future destiny Of America, and
for that reason the gatherings will be
followed eagerly by the whole world.
or course the paramount issue is
Americas future course, whether she
will pursue her policy Of isolation and
freedom from European problems and
entanglements, or whether, through
the League of Peace, she will become
the leading factor in the settlement of
all world controversies. We do not
believe there is an American citizen
who does not favor some arrange
ment Of all the moral forces of the
world to guard against future wars,
to help in the economic and canstruc-
tive problems of all peoples, to reduce
military establishments, and to lessen
the burdens of war. But the issue in
American politics is whether the
country will enter the world Peace
League upon the same basis as the
European powers, to become a party
" to maintain the territorial integrity
and the political sovereignty of all
nations as determined at the Versailles
conference or whether America
will join the League with such reser-
vations as will preserve American in
terests supreme. This is the issue.
Mr.. Wilson, the foremost advocate Of
the League, has said that the adoption
of the League, with such reservations
as win not impair its essential integ-
rity, will be satisfactory to the Dem
ocratie party. The Lodge reserya-
the president and to a large
element in the Democratic party-4are
unsatisfactory.
The republican party is confronted
by a more serious difference Of opin-
ion. The old conservative element is
standing behind Lodge and his reser-
vations, while there is large faction
Johnson, Borah, and their
uncompromising opposition to any
league at all. The big problem at
Chicago this week is in adopting
platform which will hold in line the
opponents of the league and insure the
solid support of the party to the
party's nominee. The general idea of
this plank in both platforms is that
it will be in some general terms ac-
ceptable to all the varying shades of
opinion now in American politics.
The leading candidates of the re-
publican party are Wood, Johnson,
and Lowden. Wood is a reservation
list, but the slush fund raised in his
behalf and uncovered BY the senate
committee has greatly
injured his prospects before the whole
people, and apprehension exists as to
the wisdom of his nomination Hiram
Johnson is opposed to any league at
all, and he has made a wonderful
showing in those states where presi-
Dental primaries have drawn the
issue. Hiram has also spent few
hundred thousand, but his support has
not come from the interests but from
The people. Lowden has also figured
ia the slush-fund investigation, but is
regarded as a formidable candidate.
Thus the issues are presented to the
republican party, and before the week
is out the platform will be adopted on
all of the great issues which now con
front the country and their standard
bearer will be chosen.