The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-16
SENATORS
TODESERT PARTY
TO RATIFY PACT
UnCOmpromising Attitude of
Wilson on Treaty Will Bring
Split in Democratic Ranks,
Many SoIonS Believe.
BY DAVID AwRENCE.
Especial CORRESPONDENT OF The News
SeimItarl

WAsHINpTON. Dee. IG.-P President
Wilson himself dictated the statement
issued nj the White House az Of "th"
highest authority" 10 tho effect that
he had no move Of compromise or con
cession Ia mind with reference 10 the
status OF tho treaty Of peace,
Senator Lodge, Republican leader, haFI
insisted that he would not take the
Initiative Each side blames and holds
| the other responsible, on tho surface
| this may seem like confirmation OF the
| fears OF u permanent deadlock between
| The executive and legislative branches
| 0t the government But there Are other
| factors ana forces Of sufficient influ-
ence and strength to bring about com
| promise,
In tho first place, foreign govern
ments have let II be Known that some
Of the reservations will DO accepted.
| In the second place Democrats and
| Republicans who arc not themselves so
| closely committed by the positions Of
| their respective leaders are free to 20
| ahead ard map out compromise. And
! IN the thirh place, the American public
Ii unquestionably impatient that some.
| thing he done to clear up the confused
| status Of American relations with Ed
| rope as consequence Of tho war.
Responsibility for Delay,
The tire y past whSn appT TgiI.or Or
| hlfhDnfONHl ht lFFHlVRHt W llSaif
statement will do any good II would
tnke the supreme court Of the United
States many months to fix the exact
responsibility for the delay In tho peace
treaty. il the whole ease we're taken
into consideration, from tho day Presi-
don't Wilson went abroad without tak-
| Ing along representative Republicans TO
the night when the Democratic side Of
fered the olive branch and resolutions
OF compromise and the Republican ma
jufity refused to permit even vote 10
he taken on sor1o Of these proposals.
but adjourned congress IN huff, and
down to the statement issued by the
president calmly throwing off his own
shoulders the responsibility and care.
fully reposing the same on tho heads OF
the opposition.
who Ia responsible Il OF relatively
less Importance today than ywhat can
be done to relieve the suffering OF
Europe and to avert n financial and
commercial catastrophe on the other
side of the ocean which might conceiv-
ably have its effect In shutting down
American factories and retrenchment Of
concerns dependent for their income on
foreign trade. Big business and little
business Is pushing hard for ratification
and nothing has caused 80 much favor
able comment since the treaty fight
began ar tho big page advertisement
Issued by the New York Chamber OF
commerce pleaulnk WIN Dotn SUES W
the controversy to get together nnd
3 | ratlty the treaty In some form,
President Wilson'S move Is the logi
cnl expression Of hls conviction that
4 the treaty is still before the senate fol-
\ approval or rejection The senate lead
ors In his judgment ,can revive hi
treaty by n majority vote. He Us too
vi old to take the initiative Ia beggini
the senate for n compromised, Senato
Lodge II too proud to do the same
Clearly the leadership on both sides o
the senate would seem to be IN danger
\ For Senhtur\ Oscar Underwood leading
Democrat, wants compromise The so
called mild rcservHtonists among th'
Republicans, led perhaps by Senate
LNnropt OF Wisconsin, could effect
compromise.
outside OF the white House are man,
persons IN the administration who wan
a compromise on the peace treaty. -
"A compromise. they don't mean amend
ments that would vitality impair tn
| league OF the peace treaty, but clause
that would clarity and make explicit
tho obligations of the United states,
But nobody inside the administrator
dares 20 take the risk OF negottatln
with the senate for fear OF presidenta
reprimand. So the inevitable outcom
| viii be a move on the part OF TIL
friends Of the treaty, both Republican
and Democrats, who can arrange
compromise and take the initiative an
relieve both the president and Senate
oape of the embarrassments resultin
from the positions to which they hav
committed themselves
Sorry Commentary.
It Is sorry commentary on represen
tative government-with the Who'll
country anxious for something to
done aud the party leaders on bot
sides insisting that some deus ex ma
y china should come along--and solve tn
situation and save the faces OF all con
cerned a.
cabinet Meanwhile the country sui
Ccrcd Finally somebody took the In
iuauve and brought about a oomprc
mise. Just now the whole world Is a.
foctcd by tho DELAY in defining clearl
AmerlraSs information relations, an
ths opportunity to do something cor
structive Is before the great number I
Republican, and Democratic senator
who care more about their country tina
they do the pride OF thelr leaders.
A split IN the Democratic ranks
predicted on every side A split In u
Repubhcan ranks has been In eviden,
ever since Senators Borah and 1ohnsC
and Knox and their group Of, eight s.
out TO XIII the treaty entirely,
So, as FAR as party dindvantaEe
s. concerned, break away from the par
leaders in an effort to find two thirt
who win ratity the treaty Us frRuEl
e with no political danger on either sid
hut with great deal Of comfort al
advantage TO nm unsteady world
That In substance, is the view whi'
many senators are privately eSpressil
and, " they could get up enough cou
ave TO nut their private convictions In
public action, the day OF compromt
on the peace treaty, which Is bound
come would be brought immeasurah
nearer until both Senator Lodge Al
the president would be compelled TO r
reae from their positions and accept {
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