The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-08-27
Anti-WIlson Faction Will Not
Accept Compromise Propos-
ed by Seven Republicans
OTHER ISSUES IN CONNEC-
TIoN ARE BEING RAISED
President Wilson Takes Position
That Neither He Nor Congress
Can Declare War at End

sdQ0VIS QSdSS IL lCdLy 1851 ' S11AoAAS
keep them separate from the ratiflca-
ton itself was put aside Indefinitely
today after Democratic leaders had
declined to assume responsibility for
81, and Republicans of all shades oi
s6pinion had given notice they could
not accept it.
Among the Republicans the de-
Z sye.opment was interpreted as mean
I ing that action never would be sought
Il on the proposal in its present form
and Democratic leaders generally SAID
fhey had no plans for bringing it 1e
a,9vete.
sMeantime a White House announce
ment and; an executive session OF the
foreign relations committee brought
to- the surface again two other issues
OF the treaty light.
President Wilson, replying to a sug-
Eestton that he might put the country
on "a peace basis by declaring the wal
at an end, announced that he not only
considered himself powerless to take
such step, but considered peace
declaration either by himself or con-
gress prior to ratification Of the treaty
would tpnt a stain upon our national
honor" by evading responsibility in
! the world peace settlement.
The foreign relations committee got
into another argument over prompt
committee action on the treaty which
ended by a decision without a record
vote, to continue its hearings to re-
.ceive the cases of the Irish, Creek,
Egyptian, Lithuanian, Ukralnlan'
Esthonian and Lettish races.
In every Democratic quarter, inciud-
if,g the White House, it was indicated
that the compromise proposal as pre-
scented yesterday in a. resolution by
Sentaer Pittman ofsNeyada, Demo
craf of the committee. was not specl-
t6eally sponsored Sby the president,
though 1t followed. generally the lines
of his suggestion to the committee
Tuesday. regarding reservations.
- Senator Pittnan issued statement
saying the president had no knowl-
edge of the resolution and Senator
Hitchcock of. Nebraska, the admins
ration leader, indicated that in no
sense was the move to be considered
as inspired by the administration.
There was no formal expression from
the White House.
In his. statement Mr. Pittman said
hE idea in presenting the measure
was to. expedite action on the treaty.
1 He insisted that he would ask for ac-
ton later. He argued that acceptance
oxx the reservations proposed could be
gs-ned from the nations who will con-
Mof the league Of nations council. thus
making it possible to ratify the tretay
with the assurance that the disputed
sections of the covenant will not be
interpreted to the disadvantage Of this
country.
There was increasing evidence dur
ing the day, however, that the group
OF Republicans who have agreed on.
reservations similar to those in the
Pittman resolution, would withhold
tEeir approval from any plan not con-
templatins inclusion of the qualihca
TORS in the ratification itself. Repub-
Icsn leaders said they were ready for
asyote today if the Democrats wanted
to bring the resolution to a roll call.
President Wilson'S announcement
CT his stand against a peace declara-
tion was. made in a letter to Senator
Fail, Republican, New Mexico, in re-
ply to a. list of questions submitted by
the latter. At the same time Mr.
wilson explained the treaty provis-
ION turning over the German colonies
tie the big five powers. by saying it
vested only a trusteeship over the
colonies pending a permanent ar
rangement for their government. A
provisional agreement in the matter
had been reached, he said, but it was
contingent on the league of nations.
The president wrote that it was
deemed wise to have American repre-
sentatives in various boundary COM
missions because it would add "a USE
fuE cement Of entirely disip.erested
Judgment
s Replying to another question he
sid his belief that ratification of the
treaty would reduce the cost of living
was based on the assumption that
ratification would have the effect of
'lestoring production and commerce
to their normal strength and free
DEM
IN deciding to hear additional wit
nscesses the foreign relations commit
tee overuled a protest from Demo
cratic members who are said to have
taken the general position that it was
imperative to proceed at once to act
or ne treaty.
The case OF Egyptians is to be pre-
sented Saturday by their counsel.
Jeseph w. Folk. and the others prob
a;,ly will be heard next week. The
decision to hear the case of the Irish
- 8 in response to request from
the friends of Irish freedom, whose
representative to appear before the
committee is to be chosen later. The
cemmittee finished it's questioning Of
Dr. J. c.. Furgeson. adviser to the
president Of China, regarding the
Si.antung provision. and tomorrow
Prof. E. T. Williams. formerly head
os the Far Eastern division of the
state department, will be heard on the