Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-27
THE COLOSSAL BLUNDER
Was President Wilson's Says ex-
President Taft

Former President William HOWARD
Taft in q copyrighted article puonsneo
in the Pnadei ~ "a. ssnase L on Wesnss.
day demonstrate that If the President
had been willing to face the unpleasant
fact that the Treaty could not De tau-
fed without reservations and had given
his permission to the Democraue sen
vationists among the Republicans the
supporters Of the Treaty could have
formed a majority. controlled the par
liamentary situation and secured a rau-
than those imposed by the solid Repub-
lican vote. Mr.. Wilson could not charge
Mr.. Lodge with responsibility for the
situation, for it is Of his own making.
WEI may differ widely from Mr.. Lodge
as Ito the necessity or wisdom Of the
reservations he insisted on and Of these
he voted for. and We may critcise the
evident hostility to Mr.. Wilson that
consciously or unconsciously anected
Mr. Lodges attitude toward the Treaty.
Wilson's in supposing that by frontal
attack he could reduce plain majority
against the Treaty Of a dozen or more
votes into a minority of one-third Of tn
Senate.
He persisted in hamstrinsfng his sup
pcrters in the Senate. He required them
to keep up the farce Of announcing each
day that the Treaty must pass withou.
the crossing Of a ( or the dotting Of an
l. when every one knew that this was
impossible. This drove the sincere sCp-
porters Of the League among the Re
Mr.. Lodge and the Foreign Relations
Committee. 1t produced delay in which
the bitter opponents OF any league were
able to rouse fractional support for their
stand.
Meantime the Democrats sat twiri:ng
their thumbs and declaring that all OPP
position to the Treaty as it was would
fade away. Only in the nth hour. when
the lines were tightly drawn was there
any suggestion Of compromise by the
Democrats. and then Of kind certain
to be rejected.
ing a personal element in his attitude
toward the reservations. quite Ike that
attributed to Mr.. Lodge, and without
any aid to the situation In pointing out
a possible line Of compromise.
''The world waits. Our allies are
aehast at the result They had accept
ed the bland and blind confidence of the
President that the opposition would d's-
appear like mist before the sun. and
they have had rude awakening. OF
20 on With the League, but facing their
dimculties that have grown much iE
the long delay, they are in their hearts
sad and discouraged It 10 probable
that they would not have objected 10
the reservations, however much they
disliked them, and they would have
soon forgotten most Of them In the &C.
tual operation of the League.
Ninety per cent: Of the value Of the
League 10 left In the Treaty In spite OF
the reservations. The Presidents state
ment that they nullify the Treaty Is en-
tirels unwarranted. It is q statement
unfortunate both in its lack Of founda-
don and in the obstacle II forms to ~.
tuPe compromise.
what is the prospect? Some Il DAYS
must elapse before Congress convenes
ip regular session. Senators on both
sides win have q chance to get q some
what different view Of the situation
when at home. They viii find q weafi-
ness over the delay and an overwheim-
ing demand that something be done ~ =
definite character. They win and but
little patience with deadlock when 8,
senators are for Treaty and q Leae,se
and only "a are needed to ratify. WSsn
they como back there u 4-roaeon 70
hope that. unless the President main-