American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1919-03-15
President Departs for France
Without Sehate's Approval
of Nations League.
CHANGES MAY Be NECESSARY
Filibuster In Senate Kills Urgent Bills
and Early Extra Session 10 Pre-
dicted-Progress Of the Peace
Conference Delegates
In Paris.
By EDWARD W. PlckARo.


on his return trip to France last We'd
nesday there must have been some
bitterness In his soul For very
considerable part Of the senate had re-
fused to accept his dictates concern
Ing the constitution Of the league OF
nations, and congress had adjourned
under circumstances that seem to
make necessary the early calling of an
extra session despite the presidents
fiat declaration that he would not sum-
mon the new congress until his return
from Paris
Mr.. Wilson, I'm his speech In New
York, asserted that the great majority
of the American people favor League
of nations, and there is no doubt OF
the truth Of the assertion. 1t Is IA
vored, too, by u great majority OF the
senators, but many Of them, and pre-
sumably many private citizens, do not
favor the constitution Of the League
as II now stands. The president has
told us that It is practically impossible
now to amend the drafted constitution,
but that he Is mistaken In this Is the
opinion of the opposing senators, ana,
according to recent dispatches from
Paris, some of the delegates to the
peace conference agree with them.
After 80 Republican hold-over senator's
and senators-elect had signed round
robin declaring that the league con
stitution should be altered and that
Il should not be considered further
until the peace treaty had been rati-
fed, II was plain to the administra-
! ton leaders. II not tn the president
| that some compromise was necessary
| Therefore, possibly with the authoriza-
| ton of Mr.. Wilson, Senator Hitchcock
asked Senator Knox to draft the
| amendments which he and other Re
| publican senators desire. AT this writ
Ing the results of this step are NOT
known, but II seemed likely that, IL the
president should cOncede some of the
changes asked, the senator's would con,
sent to making TIE league an integrn'
part of the peace treaty. on TINS lat
ter point the president takes deter
mined stand, telling his New YORK
audience that when the treaty comes
back for ratification Eve will find the
covenant not only In 1t, but so many
threads of the treaty tied to the cove
nant that you cannot dlssect the cove
nant from the treaty without destroy
Ing the whole vital structure"
That n majority Of the American
people are in favor of the league con
stitution as II now stands Is doubted
by Senators Borah, Lodge, Knox ant
others Of its opponents. They say they
are receiving numerous letters dali!
that protest against it, and are Willing
that 1t should be submitted to nation
wide referendum. Though the qnes
ton seems to be drifting into the felt
of partisan politics, 1t must be sat
that a number Of Democratic senator
are as much against the present leagu
plan as are the Republicans who signe
the round robin while some Republ
cans are heartily supporting the pres
dent. In the next senate there Will b
at least 80 votes against the lcagu
r plan, and 33 will be enough to prever
: Its ratification.