The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-29
THOMAS NEAR
TREATY BOLT
Senator Points "Vital Flaws"
to Wilson, Who Tries to
Argue Them Away.
SHANTUNG INJUSTICE"
President Hastily Visits Capt.
tOl at This First Break
in Regulars Line.
SHANTUNG INJUSTICE"
Special Despatch to THE SUN.

WASHINGTON, July rs. - President
Wilson received a new shock to-day
when he encountered more genuine
opposition to the peace treaty and the
League of Nations covenant from a
member of his own party. Hitherto
the Presidents contact with the op-
position has been confined to the series
Of interviews with dozen or more Of
the Republican Senators under sus-
picion Of being not wholly opposed to
the Administrators international
policy. He has never conferred with
either Senators Reed (Mo), or Gore
(Okla.), the openly reoellious members
of the Senate Democracy.
To-day the President conferred with
Senator Thomas (Col), at the White
House, and is said 20 have been told
by the Senator that the treaty con-
tanned flaws of so vital Q character
that he gravely doubted whether party
fealty offered sufficient reason for his
vote toward ratification.
The President almost Immediately
called a conference of Administration
leaders in the Presidents room at the
| explained to them the necessity of con-
centrated effort toward ratification. The
group to whom the President discussed
the treaty included Senators Swanson
(Va). the Democratic floor leader; Pitt
rene (Ohio), Harrison (Miss.). Jones
| IN. M and King (Utah).
President Pleased Them.
After the conference the Senators ap-
peared highly pleased with what the
President had told them. Some of them
said the President had not indicated
definitely when he proposed to start his
| speechmaking trip in behalf OF the
league, and there was some intimation
that the President had come to feel such
assurance In the matter of ratification
| that he might possibly abandon his pro-
posed trip.
Mr.. Thomas apparently was regarded
at the White House as an Administra-
tion supporter. and 1t was noted tonight
that at no time has he given utterance
to anything suggesting misgivings
Senator Thomas had kept bis own
counsel SO effectively that his misgivngs
| about the whole peace settlement were
suspected by few in or out of the Senate.
| 1t was a surprise to the President, there
fore, to discover that the Colorado SEN
ator was doubtful about his course re.
garding the treaty.
Does Not Meet Thomas.
Later in the day. when the President
| appeared unannounced in the President s
missed that the things he had learned
about Mr.. Thomas's attitude must have
had a good deal TO do with his appear
ance. 1t was noticed that Mr.. Thomas
was not among those with whom the
| President met during his stay at the
Capitol
Concerning what passed between him
self and the President, Mr. Thomas OBJ
served all the usual courtesies regard
! ing communications with the President.
| but admitted that his own mind, as re-
| garded his duty in voting. was In sus-
| pense. He felt that the issue was one
| of such Importance that weight could
not be given to party interests or politi-
| cal considerations.
'If that were all that had to be con-
| sidered." the Senator admitted after
ward, "the position would be very easy.
But this matter is vastly more i'm
portant than any mans or party's po-
| litical fortunes"
! He regards the Shantung settlement a
supreme injustice to China Beyond this
he was hardly better pleased with the
settlement OF the problem of the Saar
Basin.