The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-09-23
PREPARING FOR A VOTE.

latons material resources vital interests the part
played by each in the winning of the war, there any,
thing the facts which warrants the granting to Eng
land of this great preponderance of influence?
These are questions which have vexed all thoughtful
Americans since the draft of the treaty made
public. They have complicated the difficulties of the
supporters Ct the treaty in defending this particular
vision and they have formed the foundation of of
the most telling attacks upon it.
The pride and honor of all Americans is touched by
this obvious inequality. The Senate committee for
egn relations has felt the discrimination keeny that
it has adopted and reported to the Senate textua
amendment giving to the United States six votes.
Upon that point the first issue between the opponents
and supporters of the treaty is to be fought out it is
announced Senator Johnson, of California author of
the amendment, who has been out upon the hustings
arguing against ratification has been summoned to Wash
ngton and the opposing forces in the Senate pre-
pairing for show of strength the question of adop
ton of this change in the text.
| The merits of the amendment few Senators will
to dispute. Resistance to its adoption doubtless will
almost exclusively upon the proposition that such
would result in reconvening of the peace con-
ference and otherwise compcate the of readust
ing the world to the new conditions
But who will come forward with the bald proposal
that Great Britain should have six times many votes
as the United States? Who will have the temerity to
argue that the Importance and the vital interests of tn
British empire six times great as those of the
United States? The relations of Britains colonies to
the throne too we'll understood to permit of any
deceptive reasoning in justification of this provision
Enjoying local selfgovenment to the fullest extent as
they doubtless do, they and they pay allegiance
to their sovereign which makes them all members of
one great family, identical in interests purposes and
ideals
Does any one doubt, should question affecting the
mother country arise in the League of Nations how
Canada or Australia would vote 1t has been said that
under such conditions there would be the unanm
ty among the voting British colonies displayed at
the peace conference among the American commissioners
1t is not therefore, to be anticipated that the discus
sion of the johnson amendment will hinge upon the
merits of the proposition to give Great Britain six times
many votes the United States, but rather that it
will be argued along the line of expediency. Friends
Of the treaty will try to show that the league council can
not act except by unanimous vote, but reference to
Article XIV shows that this claim is not accurate Best
ay member of the league take question away from
the council and refer it to the assembly, where all league
members can vote upon it, and where unanmity is not
required
The demand for hasty action the ground that the
world is endangered has long since ceased to alarm
ators and the public too, logger is frightened by it
The idea has permeated the public mind that it better
to go slowly, at the cost of temporary delay in
than to make haste which will involve
the country serious embarrassments and which might
have disastrous consequences.
The test of strength the Johnson amendment will be
watched with interest, since it is likely to give an idea
of the lineup in the Senate the various propositions
to amend the text or to include reservations in the
luton of ratification. Treaty opponents assert that dur
ing the past few weeks theyw have gained strength and
now they are ready to put it to the test If they fail
to secure the extual amendments desired they
fden they have the votes to impose reservations which
will meet their principal objections.
In the mean time President Wilson gives no indica-
ton of willingness to make concessions in the form
of reservations and his supporters realizing that such
concessions necessary to ratification, left
in rather disturbed state of mind solution of the
situation appears to be approaching but the nature of
it is still in doubt-Washington Post
Teachers probably satisfied with the higher cost of
tacks rubber bands and putty blowers.
If sugar treatens shortage thew might put less sweet
ening in the soda water. 1t ought to improve it.
Remember that it is quite likely that you are happier