The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-11-28
WHAT OF THE SENATE?

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waiting, did the American public,
wearied and impatient at the oceans
of oratory and drops Of action, be-
heve that the senate of the United
States would make the mess of things
that the peace treaty wrangle has
developed. 1t is wothout precedent,
utterly foolhardy, extravagant, negli-
gent of the countdy's interests. For
an assembly of purportedly the finest
brains of America to blotch the pages
of history with such record is
enough to make US wish we could
bump their heads together until those
august personages might see a few
flickers of wisdom's rays.
proposal isn't all that we Ameri-
of nations becomes effective Dec. l..
America doesn't count. We are not
the whole show yet not by long
way. The diplomatic world can live
without US. Even Germany can stag
ger along a few months without our
consuls, ambassador and in full pos
session of millions in American citi-
zens' property.
Probably the League of Nations
proposal isn't al that we Ameri-
cans desire But ten sane men, intent
upon the purpose could have effec-
ted alterations in one tenth the time
it has taken the senate to accomplish
nothing. Even the senate might have
done so had its members sincerely
chosen to do so.
In December, the treaty and league
covenant will be returned by Presi-
dent Wilson, re-introduced for con-
sideration by the senate. And the
glorious revel will begin all over
again. In the meantime, while our
European allies are at peace with Ger
many, we remain at war. The United
States may have been reluctant to en-
ter the conflict but she hasn't hest
tated to prolong it.
Probably the senator's feel they are
serving the country well. Why, they
even adopted cloture rule for the
first time in history to expedite
things, several senator's thereby losing
the privilege Of having their fiery
denunciations of the opposition and
their Interpretation of the Parsiar
document spread on the front page Of
every newspaper in every corner Of
the land. just think of the lost adver.
Using sacrificed in the interests of the
publici
s, Politically, while the lineup is rrac-
tically on partisan basis, and botf
parties claim overwhelming popular
support of their position, Republicans
and Democrats have steadfastly re-
fused to recognize Wilson's pei
scheme as a political issue. 1t should
be above politics but it isn't Oui
own Mr.. Borah has dramatically
threatened to leave his party If il
doesn't scrap the entire scheme
Quite possibly, with all difference te
Mr.. Borah's ability, the forsaker
party would not suffer materially
And Mr.. Borah's fellow instigatol
of trouble and stimulator of unrest
Hiram johnson, is sauce of the same
salad. Fewer Borah's and fewer
Johnson's might have permitted some
acceptable compromise.
America did not believe the senat.
possessed the egotism, the crust to de
what has been done. 1t makes yot
and l more firm in our conviction
that it is time someone was devisinl
an alteration in our government tina
will dispense with 90 senator's and 5Oi
members of the house of represents
tives.
While protecting American inter
ests, the senate has halted reclama
ton, labor, and numberless other bit.
of legislation resigned to dispose o
domestic problems, probably equal,
important and just as clamorous a.
the peace treaty. Probably after two
or three more months, the senate will
do what it might and should have don,
last simmer. Until then, just Ameri
ca must wait. For the senate will
adopt the covenant in some form
probably with comparatively insig
nificant notifications. The time ha.
passed when the United States car
sit on the side lines and watch the dip
lomatic maelstrom. And the senat,