The Goldfield news and weekly tribune. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1911-1947, 1918-12-21
THE SENATE TO THE HAY

The consciousness in the United States senate that TINS
august body at the most important moment II ns S"ppo'ou
funcroning under the American constitution anu Ill .e lme n-
lean system of government is about to become a voice crying
in the wilderness is a consciousness winch pro'o'U' Nv"
valid perception of facts and portents.
President Wilson is preparing to become the complete
constitution of the United States in the negotiation " ~
most important and far-reaohing agreements TO WHICH "%
American Nation has ever been asked to set III nd"u "0
seal.
He is about to become the final determinative voice OF
the nation, its mind, and its expression, and the senate, con-
stitutionally endowed with powers of suggestion ana raunca-
ton, is about to be pushed into the snowstorm " ild''0n ~
rose against the window pane.
Mr.. Wilson's voyage to Europe is at least unpreceoeheu
in American history. That our presidents nave, WIN u'nai
exception. considered themselves necessarily domesuca'eu o
the term of their office may not have constituted a mandate
upon successors, but it was a real symbol OF importance II
.service-not a mandate, but an expression OF sometnlhe me
American people held very dear-an expression OF ther Jusu-
fled self concentration, of their aoofness from complications
which were attributed to dynastic ambitions, from which we
proposed resolutely to remain aloof.
Mr.. Wilson's departure to foreign parts is not only a sig
nificant departure from precedent; it is a significant break
ing away from constitutional restrictions at a time when for
the safety of the American republic they ought to govern
rather strictly.
The senate is an elective body responsive to many cur
rents of opinion in the United States. Its duty, consttu-
tionally imposed, is to serve as an adviser and counselor to
the executive authority in the making of treaties.
The reason for this constitutional provision is easily I'M
derstood. The same makers of the constitution feared ar
engagements by which the will and wish of one man might
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the executive will should be subjected to notifications which
might come from an elective body, not the great popular
body, the house of representatives, but the highly selected
body, the senate. Certainly this was not too great a restric-
ton to be put upon executive determination.
1t may be said that Mr.. Wilson by going abroad to sit at
the peace conference and announce the purpose of the Unit
ed States, to outline its subscriptions to agreements, does
not forestall the action Of the senate as a ratifying body.
He does. He introduces an element of moral compulsion
which strips the senate not only of it's function as an advis-
ing body, but virtually of its function as a ratifying body.
1T would be foolish to suppose that if Mr.. Wilson, with
all the advantages at his disposal in Europe, wins the moral
support of the country, whether that moral support is given
intelhgently or not, that the futile senate, sitting in Washing
ton, with little more knowledge of the situations and the prob
lens than any reader of a newspaper could obtain, will be
able to set up its judgment against the presidential deter
limitations. @a* 5H' q
This may be true in theory of government, but it will be-
absolutely contravened by the circumstances of the case. Mr..
Wilson will act Independently of the senate and may act de-
family of it. He is noted for his isolation of thought, even
in Washington. To this mental isolation he has added ply
steal isolation. The senate might as well go to bed.