PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Southland Times, Issue 18853, 19 June 1920, Page 5

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

THE REPUBLICAN CHOICE. CAUSTIC COMMENT BY PRESIDENT WILSON.

(By Telegraph.-—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

NEW YORK. June 17

(Received Juno IS, 10.40 n.m.l

The New York World’s Washington correspondent interviewed President Wilson, who said: “The gentlemen selected by the Republicans for President and Vice-Presi-dent harmonise admirably with their platform. The processes by which the Republican platform was evolved are essentially Prussian. The Republicans should have quoted Bismarck and Bernhanli instead of Washington and Lincoln. Livery charge directed against my administrations was obviously designed to becloud the paramount issue confronting the people of the United States, and to make violation of the obligations assured by America of small consequence.

‘ I have not the way of anticipating the probable trend of sentiment at the coming Democratic Convention, or of forecasting (hr ultimate conclusion of that body, but 1 am confident the delegates will express readiness to permit the people to decide between the vague and nebulous declarations of the Republicans and the positive and definite expressions of the Democrats - . The League of Nations lies too deep to permit political trickery to cva.'ie our moral and humituriiui responsibilities - . The Republican Convention'.* thinly veiled rejection of the principle of the League of Nations will not fool anyone. I defy ihe Republican Party to prove that the power given to the Government during the war was ever unjustly used against the people, or that anyone was evr unjustly punished for expression of opinion. I do not believe that my course cals for an apology of any kind. The Republican and not the Democratic Parly was resoonsible for any bad effects which resulted from the failure of the Senate lo ratify the Treaty and the League. 9he Republican policy ot negation has bet n con (mut'd for the sole put pose of winning the coming Presidential election. The Democratic circle will have a number of cxcellen! im-n from whom to select a President and Yin-President. I do not want to express ar opinion regarding either individuals or platforrn which might inll'.tcnre the minds of the delegates whose votes will ultimately decide the select ion.”

The correspondent describes the President’s condition as follows: --“ President. Wilson’s face is not distorted in the slightest degree. It is much I lie -same as it was, though it bears the impress of great physical suffering. ILs left leg moves with a little halt, and there is a tendency to lift it a lit tie higher and in advance ot the right limb, but the President walks easily, using only it slight cane, lie uses ins letl arm frequently, but with less freedom than the right. President Wilson has gained more than twenty pounds in weight during the last two months, his former mental vigour is unimpaired, and he accomplishes mucu hard work with his usual studious deliberation and concentration,”