Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-01-10
THE JACKSON DAY SPEECHES

The jackson Gay banquet SPECIFIES WC1C AoohCu
forward to with anticipation by many democrats
as throwing light on the attitude OF the leaders
of the democratic party toward the candidates.
and issues of the next campaign. SO tar as the
first consideration goes it was mainly concerned
with President Wilson's attitude toward third
term. The democrats of the nation are no wiser
than they were before the meeting on that point
The president in his message completely ignored
it. Not even by implication is there word IN
his message that could be deemed to have any
bearing on it. There was also as secondary
interest in candidates some curiosity as to Mr.
William j. Bryans attitude toward fourth nom
ination by the democratic party. He made 1t
rather clear that he spoke not as candidate
for any future favors from the party, but as
citizen grateful for past favors of that sort One
is justified after reading his speech in con-
Guiding that he has no expectation or desire Tor
another nomination. We are of the very firm
opinion that Woodrow Wilson is in the same
frame of mind, but certainly that cannot be de-
duced from anything he said in his message to
the democrats of the nation assembled to cele-
brate the birthday Of Andrew Jackson and our
opinion is based more on the circumstance OF his
health than on any other reason.
there is sharp division between Mr.. Bryan and
the president which is easily one most note
worthy feature Of the speeches made. The
president lays down the principle that no changes
in the treaty can be made that essentially alter
the meaning Of the treaty he laid it before
the senate though he does not object to inter-
pretative reservations. Moreover he says i'll
effect that if the treaty is not ratified in that
way he will regard it as a rejection Of the treaty
and in such case believes that the issue should
go direct to the people at the next election. Mr..
Bryan, the other hand, says that while he
believes the treaty should be ratified as the
president laid it before the senate he recognizes
the right of the republican majority to change
it if it sees fit and believes it is the duty of the
democrats to accept the best compromise the
republicans are willing to make rather than lay
the issue before the people at the next election
with the inevitable delays such course would
involve. He holds that such delays would have
very evil consequences and that the democrats
would share responsibility for them by insisting
on any ratification the majority in the senate
were not willing to grant. 1t will be seen that
this fairly Joins issue between the president and
Mr.. Bryan on vital question Of democratic ma
tional policy.
We believe it is fact that few if any demo-
cratic daily papers have been more loyal to Mr..
Bryan and more consistent in supporting him and
his policies than The Great Falls Tribune during
the past score of years. But in this issue we
feel that the president is right and Mr.. Bryan
is in the wrong. We like the attitude of the
president better than the attitude taken by Mr..
Bryan. Conceding the right of the republican
majority in the senate under the constitution
to block the treaty agreed on by all the allies
except the United States and leave this country
isolated and alone among the civilized nations in
refusing to accept any responsibility for the
league Of nations, which is the hope of the world
to substitute moral force for military force in
the settlement of international affairs yet we are
firmly of the opinon that the senator's do not
represent the majority view of the voters of the
nation in their attitude, and we might as well
have the whole question settled at the ballot box
once for all.
It is true that this should not be partisan
question It is true that it is not a partisan
question. Some democrats have been acting with
the republicans in defeating the peace treaty in
the senate. But whether these individuals are
republicans or democrats they should be defeated
for reelection on that issue. We believe they
would be if we rightly guage public opinion If
we are wrong we would be glad to know it. There
fore we are in entire accord with the views of
President Wilson. Let us find out next Novem-
Der what the people want this nation to do
this question The delay may be hurtful, but
not as hurtful as Mr. Bryan seems to think The
peace treaty is being carried out now without