New-York tribune., 1912-03-05
fFrom The Tribune Bureau

Washington, March l.
THE ARBITRATION TREATIES.-On
the legislative day II tomorrow the Sen
ate will vote on the general arbitration
treaties with France and Great Britain, the
ratification Of which President Taft has
pronounced a great stride in the promotion
Of International peace. Senator Lodge has
presented to the Senate a resolution of
ratification which meets all the valid OBJ
iectons which have been urged against
these treaties. In effect it underscores that
provision which requires that in every inf
stance where arbitration shall have been
agreed upon the compromis, or special
agreement. defining the scope of such ar
bltration shall be submitted TO the Senate
for it, approval and It further provides
that when joint high commission shall
be called into existence TO determine tho
juStiCiabilty Of any cause the American
members thereof shall be nominated by the
President. subject to confirmation by the
Senate. The first of these propositions the
President regards as unnecessary, because,
as has been said, il merely emphasizes
provision already in the treaty. Neverthe-
less. Mr.. Taft is wholly agreeable to its
adoption, IL that he necessary to allay
anxiety of the Senate. The second the
President has favored from the beginning.
1t meets with his cordial approval. The
indications are that the treaties Will he
ratified 10y the adoption Of the Lodge reso-
luton. THdrc is, however, a bare posi-
hiiity That considerable number of Sen
ators may insist on amending tho treaties
by striking out the provision for joint
high commission. Such a step would. IN
the opinion of the President. the Secretary
of state and numerous authorities. strike
blow at the cause OF universal peace and
arbitration from which ii would not re-
cover for many wears. II would practically
nullify the treaties. rendering them no ad-
vance whatever over those now in exist
euce, and il would be tantamount to the
United states retiring to the rear rank in
the International peace movement. Inas-
much as Senator Lodge has devised a
method whereby every valid objection Of
Senators can he met. without altering or
mutilating the treaties themselves, those
who vote 10 amend the conventions will lay
themselves open to serious suspicion OF
seeking 10 prevent tho President from sain-
inS such Cred: as ne is entitled to. instead
of rising above partisan considerations I'm
the treatment Of great International sub
Ject MANY Senators assert that Mr. Lodge
effectively met every objection in his mas
telly argument OF last Thursday iu sup
port OF his resolution Of ratification. and
further declare that a majority Of the Sen
ate unquestionably favOrs its adoption, only
the necessity OF securing a two-tnirds vote
constituting menace TO the ratification OF
the conventions as negotiated.
Dixon and Medin Mccormick in putting
out in behalf of Colonel Roosevelt reports
so fantastic as TO make themselves and
their cause ridiculous is genuinely de-
plored even by advocates Of Mr. Roose-
Nelts denomination. YESTERDAY for in
stance. a report that the administration
use Of patronage 10 "coerce the delegates
from the Southern states intofsupportinc
President Taft was assuming the proper
tons Of scandal and that the Senate was
likely TO deny confirmation 10 all nominees
for Office in the South until after the
national convention was industriously cir
cuated. The friends Of President Taft de-
clare that this report is without founda-
ton. and the President himself deplores the
fact that so much energy should he wasted
when it could well be employed to so much
better advantage in inducing Congress TO
act fayoraby on the recommendation in
his message of December Il that Congress
place all these minor offices in the classified
SERVICE. President Taft is the first Presi-
dent who has had the courage to urge upon
Congress a step which would deprive tho
Chief Executive OF such large amount of
patronage, and he has done so more than
once. President Taft has further suggested
that those newspapers which appear 10
take pleasure in devotng much space 10
deploring the use Of patronage could with
marked advantage turn their attention TO