Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-29
Wilson'S Forthcoming Message

THE Presidents forthcoming annual mes
l sage to Congress on December / is
! awaited with eager interest by the entire
country, Owing to his illness, the rrcsi-
! dent, Of course. will be unable to- deliver the
| message in person, has been his custom
! heretofore. Even were he not precluded
| from doing by his physical condition.
Washington gossip, often misleading says
that he has made up his mind to discontinue
The practice because Of existing strained re-
ations with the Senate over the failure OF
treaty ratification. 1t is recalled that Pres-
dent Washington, who established the Gus
tom of personally addressing Congress. had
similar disagreement with the Senate over Il
treaty and was so ncensed at alterations
written into it that when he left the Senate
chamber he said he would be damned if
he ever went there again. While Prcsi-
dent Wilson would not think of adopting that
vigorous form of language to express his dis
gust for the Scnates attitude, he is a true
disciple OF Washington in respect 10 resent
ing what he regards as an unwarranted at
tempt by the Senate to extend its advisory
authority to the point OF practically setting
aside treaty already negotiated by him and
substituting for ii OF its own dcvising
wholly different in character
just how firm will be the President stand
IN defense OF his constitutional treaty king
rights IN order TO effect ratification OF
treaty OF peace i'll some form, and thus
bring end to the presen, inlolcrabIe con
diiion OF technically being in IA state Of war
must continue matter of conjecture until
his position is indicated in his coming mes
sage. as he is said to be keeping c'osc coun-
sci with himself. Democratic leaders in the
Senate. however. have so little hone of Re-
publican opposition to tho treaty Weakening
that they openly express tho opinion that
the President ought TO make Il liberal com
promise offer on the Lodge resolution and
accepi those reservations honestly designed
TO safeguard the interests or the United
States without inviting rejection by the allies
ms OPINION as TO the proper procedure 10
break the deadlock is based upon a belief
that the Republicans will be willing to CON
cede certain notifications in the preamble
ana Article n. and possibly a few other
changes that would make the resolution less
objectionable, and Al the same time preserve
enough OF the treaty to make vital docu-
ment Unless the President yields to this
extent, these leaders see little prosDect nj
ratification.
In respect TO the many domestic proh
lens now acutely facing the country the
recommendations the President may have to
oher IN the way OF a solution are awaited
with the kecnest interest Congress is ad
mlt'ediy al sea itself respecting the char
acter or legislation needed TO solve them and
therefore. will be in a receptive mood ror
anything tho President may have 70 say On
inc subject. That the President desnite ,ba
hahdicap OF physical Weakness has given
h"ch thought 70 the direction legislation
Should take III the effort TO remedy nro
Nailhg conditions in some instances nor far
removed from the chaotic may be taken
Tor granted. and appreciating his capacitv
Tor vigorous thought in driving directIv IN
,ne hcari OF subject and courage in voicina
MS cohciuslons' the country anticipates
message dealing with these questions which
WI 'hFo" valuable light on the course that
should be pursued in cmecting their solution