Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-20
Mr.. WILSON HITS HIGH SPOTS;
THE SENATE COUNTS NOSES
Prospects Of Showdown on Treaty
Amendments Coincide with Climax
OF the Presidents Tour and Call
ing Of Political Clans


COME one has issued the league-of-
~ nations covenant as a booklet. The
Libraries, however, report no passionate
demand for the work. Upon subjects of
the first Importance the public is tradi
tiOnally content to take its information
second hand
One hundred and thirty-two years ago
the interest of the American people was
largely centered in what the champions
and opponents of the federal constitution
had to say about it. Hamilton had the
best of the argument. He also made the
best campaign and, to the eternal benefit
Of the United States, his side won.
! The end of the campaigning for and
, against the plan of international part
norship framed in Paris is in sight Both
! parties in the Senate are concentrating
on a showdown. There will be more
! speeches, Of course, but there will also be
voting.
The johnson amendment providing for
equal representation of this country and
Great Britain in the assembly of the
league is slated to be indorsed or rejected
| by the Senate next Tuesday,
calling in the wanderers and counting
noses. Borah has urged Hiram Johnson
to return from Minnesota. Lodge wires
countcrmand. The impetuous Cali
fornian's trailing of the President is
under cross-fre. Boies Penrose is eX-
pected back in the upper house Monday.
Borah is emphatic in his demands for
senatorial action on the amendments at
tached to the pact by the foreign rela-
tions committee. Naturally he is anxious
to know whether he must begin forming
that threatened party of out-and-out
anti-leaguers.
Mr.. Lodge, harassed by the wild men
wearing his party label, has his unen-
viable troubles in keeping the milder spir
its in line. In the Republican camp Nc
Cumbcr, McNary and Nelson balk at
corroding amendments to the covenant.
There is companion picture in such
possible backsliders from the Democratic
trenches as Gore, Walsh, Reed and
Thomas. Mr.. Hitchcock's most cherished
aspirations are taking numerical rather
than verbal form.
1t is too late in the day for oratory to
be translated into votes. The balloting
sessions for which the Senate is girding
itself will be responsive to two prime in
fuences-sincere conviction, partisan
loyalty and the pressure of public opin-
ion.
The President has used up his big am
munition and in California he attains the
political crest of his tour. Curiosity as
to how he would attack opposition to the
covenant has been gratifed. In his
sweepingly denunciatory mood Mr.. Will
son is least convincing. Neither at this
time do his most throbbing phrases serve
| him best
There can be no doubt that his au-
diences have been most interested in his
| specific inquiry into fallaces and his dis
missal in sound, clear argument of fan
tastic objections raised in Washington to
| the league.
Refreshing simplicity distinguishes his
| answers to set of questions propounded
in San Francisco. Very nearly the same
things have been said before by Mr.. Taft.
Any intelligent and fair-minded reader
| of the covenant text could make similar
deductions. But the American delight in
|
| its interest in original sources The pub
| lie wanted to hear Mr.. Wilson's reading
| of the obvious and so it has focked to
| his expositions. 1t was disappointed
when he generalized. The President
seems to have realized this. He shifted
to the categorical method, notably in
Hircm Johnsons state, where plain
speaking was particularly necessary. 1t
is safe to say that he cleared up vir-
tually every objection advanced against
the league and the treaty save those
which concern Shantung.
The bogie of a British voting trust can
hardly survive-unless rank partisanship
supplants reason-acquaintance with the
fact that in the council of the league the
British empire has exactly one vote. The
council is the determining body in the
league machinery. 1t is in the assembly
that the self-governing British colonies
receive representation.
Fully aware that the average citizen
SHES from the actual treaty text, Sena-
tor johnson has cast a cloud of hectic
verbage over these provisions. The
President disposed of the misrepresenta-
tions effectively and without heat. The
Shantung affair is less easily handled.
| 1t is a case of Mr.. Wilson as prophet
compared with forecasters lacking rose
tinted spectacles. 1t is the Presidents
expressed belief that the league will be
the best safeguard of China's interests
and that Japan will keep her word to
return Kiao-Chau, even though the
treaty fails to stipulate such cession.
1t is now up to the public to balance
values and appraise oracles. Unques-
tionably the sentiment of the nation is
for the early passage of the treaty in
such form that it will not occasion so
perilous and preposterous a climax as
the reconvening of the delegates to Paris.
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