The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1919-07-12

EEYEX Ienged bt nsWTed a co OTuTnatE DTaHCH U Ut OF5TuHeH~ on
FWyWI March 4, 1919. thirty-nine members OF the senate more man
nrSMaU sufficient to defeat a peace treaty, signed a deliberately drafted
IMZ|U document in which they declared their opposition TO a treaty
including a league of nations scheme This wa due notice to the President
hat these enator would not vote to ratfy a treaty with tn league Of a
lions rider imposed thereon. It is common knowledge that other senator's
some of them o n The Democratic side, are in fls sympathy VIII the VIEWS ="
the tmrty-nine.
Notwithstanding that notice, the President has set up his individual
Judgment and will against these members of the senate. some Of whom re-
cefyed their credentials from the people two years later than he did, and
raises a issue not only as TO the league of nations and thu policy OF neor
poratng such a league in a peace treaty. but also rs to whether one-man gov
eminent shall prevail in the United States whether the CONSTITUTIONAL sae-
guards of American government shall survive.
AS to the outcome of such a tissue there cal b. NJ doubt INT negative
votes of thirty three senatorsw will defeat a league of nations covenant WhheI
it is possible that President Wilson seriously believes that Of these thirty
nine senators sever at least will yield their convictions to ais vote
against their own judgment, yet it is hardly probable that he iabors under
credible. 1t is more likely that he expects each and every ne OF the thirty
nine protesans to stand steadastly by their declarations and insist upon
the elimination of the league of nations covenant from the peace treaty, thus
giving him a plausible excuse, of which he is in need. to become ice more a
par hs become Q mere personal ~ parisa" S. to be used rs \ last
resort in a political exigency.
Although it is deplorabe that the league OF nations covenant has been the
mstrumentanty through which the consumahon of peace has been delayed, it
is perhaps worth while that a issue has sheen drawn upon whichs now
he demonstrated whether this is a one-man government The Constitution
expressly provides that a twothrds vote shall be necessary or the rathea-
ion If a treaty ibis means that in the judgment of the American people. no
treaty should be ratified if orr than onethird of the members Of the
senate arc opposed thereto. In other words, it is the judgment of he Amer
can people that the negative votes of onethird of the members o. thu senate
re likely to be sound in safeguarding the future interests Of The United
States in its international affairs.
The American people arr about to learn whether man electui to Of
fee under false pretenses, cn set u and maintain his W VIII IN opposE
n to hat Of thnty-nine men chosen by the people of their several states
because o. the confidence ottheir constituents in their ability integrity and
patriotism. and som of them elected as a direct rebuke to the la who now
would impose his will upon them. The American people are about to learn
whether their interests are still safeguarded by that provision of the Const-
tuition which gives a veto power to thirty-three members of the senate in the
ratification of a treaty