The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-21

few weeks and that Mr.. Wilson was
right, does not understand senatorial
psychology or the reverence with
which the congressional mind holds con-
sistency and inflexibility.. But whilst
senators Of the foreign relations COM
mittee were going around the capitol
saying they had not gotten a bit Of
information, whilst other senators were
wading through IL to is columns Of
reading matter on the presidential quiz
statements were being issued saying not
a vote had been changed and not an
opinion previously held had been shat
tered. nevertheless, zone who watches
senatorial maneuvers from year to
year took with a grain of salt all these
utterances and could not but conclude
that President Wilson's offer Of q com
promise would eventually be accepted.
The debate brought out just n
t~hing-that lawyers can't agree on what
the treaty means and that language
doesn't mean the same to two sets Of
minds, when n set Is Republican and
the other is Democratic.
Shown Every Day.
Congress every day makes laws and
puts language into them which pro-
duceS lawsuits galore for generations
to come. Mr.. Wilson admits that there
may be different interpretations today
Of Americas future o~bligations under
the proposed treaty. But he says to
the senate adopt a separate resolution
embodying your understanding" To the
suggestion that Mr., Wilson's verbal
assurances today and his private rec
ords and conversation with the other
delegates at Paris would not be bind
ments and that, without an explicit
record thereof, a dispute ma actually
arise as to what was said, the presi-
dent offers a solution, He says the
joint resolution adopted to accompany
the peace treaty but not as a part Of
the act Of ratification would be pre-
served for years to come and would al
ways be a basis for future policy by the
Urifed States. Disputes might arise
in which other nations seem to com
pei the United States to pursue poll
cies which senators today are appre-
hensive they may want us some day
in European affairs. But, first. there
Is arbitration. and second. there Is the
supreme power of the American con-
gress to express its will and register
its moral Judgment. 49,,
II the world thought the United
States immoral-which Mr., Wilson be-
lieves never could h~appen-then fric-
ton might develops which would pro-
duce war; he admits that disnutes may
still lead to a but he thinks the
league reduces the chances of blood
shed and makes remote the necessity
for armed conflict by substituting an
assurance of concerted power.
Many senator's frankly disagree with
Mr.. Wilson'S optimistic outlook. They
do not see all the nations remaining In
the same moral union as existed during
the war. They foresee commercial riy-
airy and an era of selfishness. Mr.:
Wilson says the league Of nations would
apply the brakes to that-and II 1t
failed the world would be no worse
off than II was before 1914. He pleads
for som experiment. however untrted,
as a lean Of at least e~ndeavorlng TO
keep the big powers together for the
protection Of all the world.
Amazed at Agility.
With the wilsonian philosophy most
senators had been familiar. but they
we're frankly amazed at the mental
agility of Mr.. Wilson and his skill in
word fencing. Both sides displayed the
feeling was in contrast to personal ami
mus which 1t has been alleged was at
the bottom of senatorial opposition to
the treaty and league.
Men who have been reported as in
violent hate sat down at the same fes-
tive board and snapped stories. And
Mr.. Wilson, who has kept himself too
much In aloofness. didn't suffer from
the revelation Of his personality as a
host.
Where does it leave the treaty and
league? There are opinions galore-no
uniformity of expression 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
Republicans will not delay much longer.
They will adopt a definite line OF ac-
ton. They may be compelled to by
the aggressive tactics of the Demo-
cratic minority. And In the end, they
will be found ratifying the treaty as
It stands so as not to o interna-
tional negotiations but accompanying
the treaty they will pass a joint reso-
luton possibly submitted to the house
OF representatives as well. In that res.
olution would be embraced everything
that the congress wanted to say-from
q disapproval of the Shantung settle
ment to a definite instruction to future
representatives OF the United States in
the league OF nations concerning their