The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-18
Throws Down Gauntlet to OPP
position in Own Party.
Declares He and His Pact Nust
Be the Issue.
BACKED BY OFFICIAL FAMILY
Secretary Daniels Says "Me,
Too" and Scores Senate.
Leaders in Frisco Inclined to
Accept Presidents Orders.

Washington. June 1S.-President
Wilson has taken the offensive for his
policies at the start of the campaign.
cabinet officers and administration
senators said here today.
In Wilson's interview in the New
York World. they said. he has not only
pointed out the course he believes the
Democrats should follow in the presi-
dental campaign but he has thrown
down the gage to his opponents in his
own party.
Should the Democrats at San Fran
cisco 'pussyfoot" on the league. Will
son has left hanging over them the
possibility of his candidacy for a third
term. Democrats as well a Republi-
cans here noted that the president
has not repudiated such a possibility.
Republicans were ready to comment
on it. Democrats were not.
The gage to the presidents Demo-
cratic opponents, his supporters said.
was contained in the utterances. "he
was as confident today as l was when
returned from Paris finally in July
last that the people of not only Amer
lea but of the entire world are in ia
vor of the League of Nations" and
people want referendum on the
league issue "above anything else
political party now may provide"
Cabinet Backs Him.
In his official family these utter
|ances were interpreted as meaning
that Wilson believes the Republican
party cannot escape the league issue
and that the Democratic party will
have failed the country if It does not
take a positive stand for the league.
When Wilson declared the processes
by which the Chicago platform was
accomplished seemed to have been es-
sentially "Prussian in inspiration and
method" and later refused to COM
ment on the Republican candidates,
he outlined the Democratic campaign,
according to administration views.
This course is an attack on the Re
publican platform with the incidental
statement that the nominees fit the
platform. There was also rejoicing
among Democrats that Wilson had re =
Trained from indicating a choice for
any Democratic presidential aspirant.
Daniels Scores Senate.
Secretary Daniels today followed the
presidents interview with a statement
of the same trend.
II think the senate's failure to
ratify the treaty is the tragedy of the
century" Daniels said. THE unrest
thruout the world is chiefly due to
that failure. The American people by
an overwhelming majority showed
that they wished the treaty ratified"
Representative Mondell, Republican
leader of the house, declared the
presid ent's interview indicated he was
thinking of third term
This would convey the impression
that he would be a candidate for a
third term Mondell said. He says
he's the issue. If he's the issue, he
ought to be the candidate"
New York, June 1S-President VIII
son did not eliminate himself as a
possible nominee of the Democratic
convention at San Francisco in his
interview published today, Republic
ans here pointed out.
The president simply made the
definite statement that he had not and
would not promote the ambitions OF
any man for the nomination, they
pointed out.
Some delegates from the northwest
ern states are under direct instructions
| to vote for Wilson on. the first. ballot
unless the president directly releases
| them before the convention reaches
the balloting stage. There was moth
the president will take this or any
other action directly regarding the
nomination at San Francisco.
Democrats Accept Plan.
| San Francisco, June 1S.-Membe1s
| of the Democratic national commit
! tee and the few delegates, already here
for the national convention. were
ready today to accept the plan oil
President Wilson to make the treaty
uppermost in the presidential cam
paign.
! Talk of a possible denomination oil
President Wilson for third term mas
not appeared in the open, however
f, Statistics prepared by the national
committee show that the great BODY
| of delegates is uninstructed. This fact
has added to the uncertainty surround
ing the convention. Forty-nine states
and territories listed by the committee
show eleven sending instructed dele
I gates. None of these is instructed fol-
President Wilson.
INote-The presidents interview quoted
in the above is carried on page OF today
/ State Journal