Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-08-20
NOT A LEG LEFT TO STAND ON

1t was a notable gathering that was held at the White
House in Washington yesterday. 1t was a most unusual gath
ering, and remarkable in many ways 1t is doubtful if ever be-
fore a President of the United States has entertained a group
OF senators unders similar circumstances and under like con-
ditions. 1t was an epoch making affair that will pass down in
the history Of the country as perhaps one of the most moment
nous sessions ever held. 1t was the funcioning of a great
democracy in which the leaders of the government conferred
together in the interest of the people.
Any why should not such a conference have been held
many weeks ago? President Wilson, upon his return from
France, placed himself at the disposal of the senate and SO
stated in his address when the treaty was laid before that body.
Apparently, only senatorial pride and personal luminosity pre-
vented the Presidents invitation being accepted at once. He
alone had The information that the senators sought in their con-
sideration of the treaty and the senators knew it. But he
could not read their minds and know what they wanted without
them asking questions. Before they would avail themselves
of the Presidents offer, however, they wasted many weeks
hterrogating everybody but the very one who could have en-
fghtened them. 1t was a silly exhibition, but the humor was
entirely taken out of the situation when one realized that an
expectant and anxious world was waiting for a final peace to
be restored.
But now there are signs of getting together The senators
have gone to the President and if they thought to embarrass
him in any way they have been greatly disappointed. So far
as being afraid of having to treat in confidence what the Pres
ident told them, the President went them one better and
showed the senators and the country what he means by pitt
less publicity" The senators can discuss everything the Pres
ident said in the open to their hearts content, for today, thanks
to the Presidents suggestion, every word that was spoken at
the conference is laid before the whole world.
The mastery manner in which the President handled
himself becomes all the more impressive when it is realized
That he faced seventeen senators, a majority of whom were hos
tile to him. The facility and ease with which he answered
questions, never hestatng or making the slightest attempt
to dodge, carried conviction with every sentence that he ut
tered. And for the senators, too, it must be said they displayed
no animus or personal feeling in their questions and accorded
MI. Wilson every courtesy. Altogether it was as it should be-
a conference of great minds having to do with a great subject
upon the outcome of which depends the future progress of the
world.
By his clear and concise statement at the opening of the
conference the President swept away all doubts and fears as
to the effect the treaty with the covenant OF the League of
Nations would have ON the independence of this nation, and
the Illuminating answers to the questions that followed left
nothing to be desired.
While the President has scored heavily in breaking all
said at the conference through stenographie reports, thereby
giving the people as well as the senators the benefit of his
thorough understanding of the whole matter, the most signif-
cant outcome of the conference was placing squarely upon the
shoulders of the Republican senators, who are blocking the
ratification of the treaty, the responsibility for whatever may
happen should the senate, through amendments or limitations,
send the treaty back to Paris and cause the negotiations, so
happily closed, to be reopened with all that that involves. The
President clearly outlined what was likely to happen should
the matter be reopened at the peace conference and he, better
than anyone else, is in a position to know.
The outcome of the conference is, the President has
knocked the props from under any real opposition that there
may be to the treaty as it stands, and the people, desiring
peace, will more than ever insist upon a prompt ratification
on the part of the senate, making such interpretations as the
senate may choose showing Americas attitude toward the va
rious clauses, but making such interpretations entirely sepa-
rate and apart from the treaty itself.
With so much depending upon the prompt action of the
senate we do not see how the senators can continue to abuse
the patience of the people any longer, especially when so many
other important matters are demanding the attention of the
congress.
MAKING A GOOD RECORD