Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-21

by the United States. Disputes
might arise in which other nation:
seek to compel the United States
TO pursue policies which senators
today are apprehensive they may
want US some day to pursue-such
as deep ENHANCEMENT in European
affairs-but, first, there is arbitra-
ton, and, second, there is the SUI
preme power Of the American con-
gress to express its will and regis
ter its moral Judgment. If the
world thought the United States
unmoral-which Mr.. Wilson be,
lieves never could happen-then
friction might develop which would
produce war. He admits that dis
putes may still lead to war. but he
thinks the league reduces the
chances of bloodshed and makes
remote the necessity for armed
conflict by substituting an assur-
ance of concerted power.
Senators Disagree.
Many senators frankly disagree
With Mr. Wilson's optimistic out
Nlook. They do not see all the ma
tons remaining in the same moral
union as existed during the war.
They foresee commercial rivalry
and an era of selhshness. Mr.. Will
son says the League of Nations
would apply the brakes to that
and il it failed, the world would
be no worse off than it was before
1914. He pleads for some expert
ment, however, untried. as a means
of at least endeavoring to keep the
big powers together for the pro-
lection Of all the world.
With the Wilsonian philosophy,
most senators had been familiar
but they were frankly amazed at
the mental agility of Mr.. Wilson
and his skill in word fencing. Both
sides displayed the finest courtesy
The spirit of good feeling was in
contrast to the personal animus
whifA it has been alleged was at
ekhe E%ttom of senatorial opposition
toN the treaty and league. Men
who have been reported as in vio-
lent hate sat down at the same
festive board and snapped stories.
And Mr.. Wilson, who has kept him
self too much in aloofness didn't
suffer from the revelation Ct his
pOA 5OAldA4Ly do a hO5b-
RepubS Must End Delay.
Where does it leave the treaty
and league? There were opinions
galore-no uniformity of express
sion at the capitol. It will take a
few days for the full effect of the
presidential debate on the country
to get back here But the Republi-
cans will not delay much longer.
They will adopt a definite line of
action. They may be compelled to
by aggressive tactics OF the DEM
ocratic minority. And in the end
they will be found ratifying the
treaty as it stands so as not to re-
open international negotiations, but
accompanying the treaty they will
pass a joint resolution, possibly
submitted to the house of repre-
sentatives as well. In that resolu-
ton would be embraced everything
that the congress wanted to say.
from a disapproval of the Shantung
settlement to a definite instruction
to future Representatives of the
United States in the League OF Ma
lions concerning their obligations
to refer back to congress for final
decision every question involving
tSre use of armed forces of our
Country.
Determined But Wary.
Some senatorial leaders who
didn't wish to be publicly quoted
insisted in private that they were
going ahead with their plans to
put qualifications in the ratifying
resolution itself. But it is hardly
expected they will take the political
risk involved. For if Mr.. Wilson
believes he is morally obligated to
to Germany and the allied
powers reservations that are put
into the ratifying resolutions, he
undoubtedly will do it. And the
responsibility would be deity i'm
posed upon the senate for reopen
ing the peace negotiations of the
responsibility which the |
most extreme partisan in the SEN
ate would not for a minute advise |
his party to assume.
Compromise Process On.
Briefly, therefore, the compro- !
mise process is on. Mr. Wilson |
announces for the first time that |
EGSGI hdliOuS OI IuLGA pl GldllOuS Ceall |
be put into a separate resolution |
and are not Objectionable to him |
He does not begrudge the senate
rs opinions but he argues that for
the sake of an immediate peace |
and a closing of the negotiations,
the method of expressing those
opinions be by separate resolu-
lions of congress
Whose method will the country
Which involves the
greater danger, political, economic
and international? Those ques-
ions were puzzling the party lead
srs today. Meanwhile President
laid plans for a continue
ion of the offensive which he start
ID yesterday to rally public opin-
on behind an early ratification of
he Eeace treaty and the establish
nent of a concert OF powers to
compose the innumerable disputes
which, when left unsolVed in the
,ast, led to an era of militarism