Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-23

ne lluln ~ JIldb llLbSN VI 10 hOIl L
think so for minute and yet, despite all
our faith, we continue to take the regula
ton comic relief trife too seriously.
Consider the peace treaty. 1t has been
inevitable from the outset that this ma
ton would ratify the document without
compelling its return to the Paris con-
ference. The country wouldn't tolerate
any other procedure.
The senators, all except a few wild
men who will always be outvoted, were
well aware Of this. But they were aware
also that verbose emotionalism in the
legislative halls was under no consttu-
tional ban and that as politicians they
had a right to cultivate the technique Of
politics.
For more than month the scoring of
points in one of the most fascinating OF
games has gone melTily on. During that
period this newspaper, which has from
the beginning advocated the passage OF
the treaty, has said little about it in these
columns The contest in Washington had
passed the phase in which it could en-
danger the fate of civilization and en-
lefCu upon llt nal llDltSS anu IISllll plp~
fessional stage. Comment upon the va
rous moves for Democratic or Republi
can position, upon the exaggerated
calamity bowling and on the whole spec
tace of shifting triumphs and discom-
future was hardly necessary.
Naturally, it mattered good deal to
Mr.. Lodge if he chalked up point or
| lost one, and the marks on the Demo
| cratic dope sheet were of deep interest
! to Mr.. Hitchcock. Such themes, how
ever, belong to the rarefed domain of the
political high criticism.
Through all the performance, how
ever, the clutch of vital circumstance was
not to be shaken off by the spokesman
of either party. Hence it was that the
foolish and corroding amendments-a
whole grst of them by Senator Fall the
Shantung trouble-breeder, and some
others-were brushed away into the dis
card.
Hence it is, furthermore, that Senator
Htchcock's obstinacy against legitimate
reservations to the treaty is likely to
react most unfavorably against him.
The pompous booming of the political
big guns is about at an end. After a
thoroughly conventionalized spasm, the
Senate is settling down to its prime busi-
ness of rejecting the peoples will
The argumentative absurdities which
senators commit seldom live after them
The good is incorporated in American
history.
The nation is now facing a refreshing
chapter of estimable performance
Having indulged its errant humor to the
full, having toyed Enthusiastically witt
the amendment fallacy, the Senate il
now plainly preparing to subscribe tC
the treaty of Versailles.
For the termination of the period O
whimsicality and abstruse professional
ism, the efforts of Porter j. McCumbe
are in a large measure responsible. Hi
marshaling of the sensible and patriot
elements best representative of the Re
publican party was reflected in the defea
of the amendments. 1t is visible agai
in the reservations which should admir-
ably serve to clarity Americas positio
in momentous foreign affairs.
Mr.. Hitchcock will be blunderin
egregiously if he is bull-headed abou
them. 1t is doubtful, moreover, whethe
his obstinacy will faithfully mirror tn
Presidents sober viewpoint.
On tour it was perhaps necessary fo
Mr.. Wilson to be uncompromising. Ths
was certainly one way of attacking tn
amendment delusion, and when spokei
man entertains passionate convictions
is hardly advisable to confuse the issu
with qualifications due for considerable
later on.
AS the situation now stands, the treat
Is out of danger. The Paris ConferenC
| is not going to be reopened.
, 1t is, therefore, altogether fitting thu
, the United States should exercise i
) right to interpret the document serious
!, | .rd exnlicitiy. The American peopia nj