Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-06-17

cannot leave n great battle at its
height for a month and find 1t, when
he returns, Just where he left IT.
His gold declaration OF the 18th had
indeed fallen like a bombshell in the
councils Of the Quai d'Orsay, and
had done much TO recover the
ground lost during his absence in
America, but in reality his Difficult
ties were now far more serious than
ever before.
1t was not so much the newly de-
termined opposition OF the European
and Japanese leaders. who had been
intriguing against his program and
gathering strength for a new cam
paign while he was away, that
troubled him. it was not even the
heart breaking discovery that his
own American delegates had failel
to understand or uphold him; It was
the feeling that he could not count
with certainty upon his support at
home.
Thus he wa, torn between two
set. OF fears. II the French feared
that the covenant which the lrehi-
dent was carrying across the At
lantic was too weak for their
security. the Americans feared It too
strong for theirs. The President
had thus a difficult problem.
The trip home hsd,at best, been
dangerous venture: but it had
seemed absolutely necessary. The
immediate occasion, OF course. was
the adjournment OF Congress on
March 4; but the real reason was to
report progress and make a power
full effort TO consolidate his support
AT home. For how could he con-
tinue TO make bold fight at Pari.
for the American program il he
knew that everything he did might
be blocked later at Washington?
The President. OF course. clearly
saw this difficulty. and relied, in cir
oumventing il, upon keeping public
opinion in America so alive, so conf
mitted 10 the principles OF the peace
he advocated, as 10 force unity OF
action.
But the trouble at Washington, rs
at Paris, was that while the reaction
OF democracy is sluggish and con-
fused, the President had 10 act
quickly. HIT did not have time 10
explain TO the people how the cove
nant he had brought back answered
their vision. 1t required a knowl-
edge OF history. foreign affairs. law.
that even the leaders did not have.
Doubt-a perfectly natural hesitation
began 10 appear. and it was in this
ready soil OF doubt that the leaders
OF the Senate planted their seeds
Of opposition. Some of them were
honestly doubtful, others were 100
willing TO use popular hesitation 10
make political capital.
Faults in Publicity.
II is easy. OF course. 10 say that
there should have been better and
freer publicity at Paris and AT home
The writer believes tnAt the great
failure of the Americans al the
Peace Conference was a failure in
,..,f.lf.ffx INIT a
highly complicated failure ana even
with the best publicity the develop
ment ~ the public opinion OF a nation
OF llO. 600. 000 people must have been
slow business.
The two long, quiet sea voyages OF
the comfortable George Washington
had given the President not only
time to think, but a much-needec
opportunity 10 rest under the close
care OF DR.. Grsyson. IL IL had not
been for these respites during IN.
heavy struggle at Paris one doubt.
whether the President would hsv.
been physically able 10 endure tn.
strain as long as ne did. He was, a,
have said. much alone, wrapped
in his own spirit: and vet that pic
turs of aloofness must ever be light
ensd and modified by glimpses OF tn,
President as simple human being.
Intimate Picture Of Wilson.
may venture to give = glimps'
Of this voyage from my notes mad
at the time:
At Sea. March IS.
lunched with the President an,
Mrs. Wilson yesterday in their pri
Vate cabin. Most interesting talk
In these informal relationships th
President and Mrs. Wilson are alto
gether charming. friendly. simpl
people. President is full OF stories
not OF the indigenous, homely sor
that Lincoln told, but remembers
anecdotes, limericks, puns. He ap
plies them with amazing aptness
Yesterday he told a number o
Scotch golfing stories. pleasant
Initiating the Scotch burr, as he ca
also initiate the negro dialect whe
ne tells a negro story. We tsike
or the prohibition amendment. whicl
lie signed the other day with Mis-
Benh.m's fountain penn on The Wa
~ Washington. lie said. with
humorous turn, that the new Law
would cause some personal depTiya
ton. but once We became adjuste
to IL il would DE Of inesiimabl
value. lie believed that the masse
Of the people were behind IL upo
conviction.
Now that our voyage Is conclud
lag ] wish / could set down. not .
much the facts. but an adequate i'm
preston Of this voyage. II has bee
quiet and simple. a small group. en-
friendly. Coming out OF strenuou