Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-14
KNoX'S LOGIC SUFFERING
FROM LOW VISIBILITY"
His FIounderine Explanations Of His
Anti.League Resolution Emphasize
the Need for New and Sane Re.
publican Leadership


publican Leadership
| SENATOR KNOX has performed the
~ astonishing feat of simultaneously
disarming both his foes and friends The
former are suddenly deprived of that in
dispensable factor of warfare--a solid
objective The barrier which the senator
from Pennsylvania raised four days ago
against the treaty ratification is not the
one which he defends today.
Whatever is to become of an opposi-
ton, however sincere, which beholds the
| obstacle against which it tilts dissolve
| into fog? The keenest weapons are futile
in so shifting a scene.
Equally embarrassing is the other
sides plight Opponents of the league of
nations took heart when Mr.. Knox hurled
his savage resolution at the peace scheme.
! Political swopds were sharpened in readi-
ness for a clear cut bout with dangerous
| ideaists."
But almost Immediately obfuscating
vapors began to thicken. Through them
it is becoming increasingly difficult to
descry the position on which the former
secretary of state stands. This is hard,
indeed, on his cohorts. Certainly, if they
are to fight for him, they are entitled to
know what he means.
If he knows. he should tell them. No
body else can. Moreover, if there is a
consistent purport to the senator's COM
ments on and revision of his own resolu
ton, the nation as a whole should not
be left in the dark.
Diminution of the light of leadership
started with Mr.. Knox's recall of his
atruistic proposal that America should
go to the aid of Europe in case such
situation as that which brought on the
European war were ever repeated.
This dictum was so f1agrantly in con-
tradiction of the contention that the
nation should keep. clear of "entangling
alliances" so fatty in violation of the
most precious arguments of league an
tagonists that Mr.. Borah's opposition
promptly disposed of it. The Pennsyl-
vania senator acquiesced, implying in
his surrender that he did not think much
of the idea-all his own, Incidentally
anyway.
But his latest change of front is even
more confusing. Mr.. Knox now. asserts
that it is not his purpose to provide for
a physical separation of the league cove
nant from the peace treaty. His avowed
desires are:
First. To give the people of any ma
tion the right to determine whether they
want the league or not after peace has
been signed and to insert a provision to
that effect in the treaty.
Second. To serve notice on the Paris
conference that the treaty will not be
acceptable to the Senate, unless this
clause is injected or unless the interweav-
ing of the covenant with the treaty is
effaced.
1t will not help at all to stand on ones
head While studying these statements.
1t will profit little to reflect them in a
mirror and convert them into the script
of "Jabberwocky." So long as Mr.. KnoX's
disclaimer of any attempt to ''dislocate"
the league covenant from the treaty is
kent in mind it will avail nothing to re-
verse the order of his announcements
or to read them backward. Whatever
method is tried the result will be glib
berish.
If the covenant is not to be distracted,
| the proposed provision that it is not CO.
evaly binding with the treaty becomes
| sheer nonsense. 1t is an integral part of
! the document.
If Mr.. Knox wants to get rid of it, he
| should have the courage of his convic-
+hnt Ho
waste basket. He will never dispose of
the obnoxious intruder by retaining it in
a state paper, the signatures to which
| must be either comprehensive or value
less.
AS for unravelng from the treaty all
strands of the league woof, nothing could
be clearer than that such a procedure
necessitates a completely new pact. Mr.
Knox declares that he wishes to "expe-
dite" ratification in the Senate and in
the next breath insists upon a step which
would compel the entire work of the
weary months at Paris to be done over
again.
Taking him at his own words and ap-
| plying to them the musty principles of
logic he has deposed as follows:
First. The league covenant must be
| distracted
1t mustn't be.
Second. The treaty must be expedited.
1t mustn't be.
II this little collection of paradoxes
were not almost too delicious to admit of
accretions, the ex-secretary of states