The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-05-09
PRESIDENT WILSON
AND THE SENATE
by AUSTIN T.. GRIFFTTHs

!. GRIFFITHS
der tho Constitution. the absolute
power Of negotiation In In the presi'
dent. and the means Of negotiation
subject wholly 90 his will and Judg'
ment.
when he shall have negotiated
and sent his proposed treaty 60 the
senate. the Jurisdiction OF this body
attaches and It's power begins. II
may advise and consent. or II may
refuse"
Continuing. the senator observed
that even the senate committee on
foreign relations had no special
claim on the president. Al this point
In tho debate. Senator Lodge arose
TO second Senator spooner and said:
That Ia the administration OF Mr.
Madison. the senate dcputed n com.
mittec TO nee him In regard 10 the
appointment Of minister 10 Sweden.
| think. and he replied that he could
recognize no committee Of the sen
ate. that his relations were cxciu'
sively with the senate"
m IhNutite irrorutfNr
Senator spooner concluded by
stating that the president ia as free
10 destroy treaty after itH ratlfica-
ton by the senate. "a he was free
would not negotiate IT," and by
quoting the official opinion OF
Thomas jefferson on the powers OF
the senate. The Transaction OF bust,
ness with foreign nations Is cxceu-
tiv. altogether"
Many senators are fond Of refer
ring TO Washington. II IL interest
Ing to know that Washington began
the PROCESS OF treaty making in con
sultation with the senate. II Is re-
ported the senators were not pleased
with the practice A. 20 Washing
ton. II 10 told IN the Memoirs" Of
John Quincy Adams: mir. Crawford
told twice over the story OF Press.
dent washlngtou's having gone 60
the senate with project Of treaty
To b. negotiated. They debated IL.
and proposed alterations 80 that
when Washington left the senate
chamber he said he would be id
II he ever went there again And
ever since that time treaties have
been negotiated By tho executive be-
for. submitting them TO tho consid'
GRAFTON OF the senate"
senator Lodge Inconsistent
In view 81 the foregoing rrpuhli.
can gospel what Of the consistency
Of senator f.odgcf lie lately was
head robin OF a round robin Of ren.
atorH declaring In advance what they
would do as 20 n pending treaty "es'
cluslyciy In the power OF the pr.=i'
dent 90 negotiate" before submission
Of IL TO tAe senate for their free ard
impartial ratification. amendment or
rejection.
But how openly has presiden, WI.
son exercised biz right TO negotiate
the pending treaty.
sine. the war began be has often
stated what he thought The treaty
ought 10 be. lie revived the prac-
ticc OF personally addressing con.
rrenw. Ia this way he took tn. sen.
ate and the people into his conf.
dcncc. He stated there must como
on, Of the war league OF nations
TO prevent. as far ns possible. future
war. lie outlined tho essential Hsruc-
ture and functions Of rpch a league.
In common with statesmen OF Eu.
rope. he said IL must be n part n
the peace treaty in order Tn make
good tho treaty. Mr.. Taft early satsi.
"such league must b, formed at
tho time Of the definite peace. or
tho opportunity may be lost for.
ever"
In four addresses during May and
June. 1918. the president predicted
and outlined the league. In his
speech accepting denomination. Sep.
tsmber 2. 1910. he emphasized ncccs-
sity for joint national action against
any wiilful disturbance Of the peace
Of IN. world. In his Omaha and
nddresaes of October.
1915. he repeats that neutrality ~
over and that ''wo must have a so
ciety OF nations"
Notably IN HIS address 20 the sen
ate, January 80. 1917. the president
went into detail in presenting his
position s'thnt peace must be fol
lowed by some definite concert Of
power" and proposed that III. ma
tons adopt the doctrine OF presi.
dent Monroe as the doctrine OF the
world" In his great address 20 con
gress. January =. 1919. his IL points
were announced. Ills famous 18th
point In now article 10 OF the peace
and the storm center Of
senatorial opposition.
They are ms follows: "a. A gen.
eral association OF nations must DO
formed. under specific covenants,
for the purpose OF affording mutual
Of political Independence
and territorial integrity 10 great and
small states alike" Article Y. The
members 81 the league undertake 60
respect and preserve as against ex-
ternni aggression the territorial In
,egrity and existing political indie
pendence OF all members OF the
league. In case OF any such aggres-
sion. or In case OF any threat or dan
ger of such aggression. the council
shall advise upon the means by
which this obligation shall be ful.
filled"
Altho tho president. particularly
In his address TO the senate. Janu-
ary. 1917. called for judgment upon
the terms and guarantees. "funda.
mental and essential" for n lasting
peace. TO he spoken now. not after
wards. when II may be too late" SEN
ators kept virtually silent and ac-
luIescent until the Paris covenant
came out. That startled them into a
chorus OF objection. Until that time.
! am afraid they relied upon their
assumed inability OF the president 10
put u across.
Historic justice win show the pres.
dent TO have been most frank and