Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-06-20
AreAIo OF rHg SENATE

From the surprising news from both
Washington and Paris we may wen
believe that the peace conference has
grave fear OF defeat FOR the league OF
nations In the senate and Is now
making a last desperate effort 10 save
II. II that should prove 70 be the
outcome OF the present crisis the con
sequence 70 ,Anffica In particular
and 70 the whole civilized world could
not fail TO be diFasieroDRand the re-
sponsibllity n great part would be
traceable directly 70 President Wilson.
That the danger h real may be
clearly Inferred from the decision OF
the council OF four az Paris 10 rewrite
the whole treaty and from the decision
o. demociatic senator's to prevent a
vote on the Knox resolution declaring
the treaty unacceptable ia is present
form II the document should be re
written, any action Of the senate al
verse TO the present text might be held
not 70 apply TO the revised text
The reason for revision which Is
gwen az Paris may fairly be taken as
a cover for the true reason, which Is
10 defer and Il possible escape un-
favorable action by tho senate Demo
cratic determination 10 maneuver for
etlay Of a vote or the Knox resolution
evidently arises from apprehension. III
not positive knowledge. that more than
one-third. possibly q majority, Of the
senators @ili vote for the resolution.
Such vote wond be notice 90 thel
world that the senate would refuse tot
ratify the treaty IN is present form.
A. the league Is interviewer with thei
peace terms Il would not suffice tol
strike out the covenant; a Wholesale.
radical revision Of the entire terms
would be necessary
II this should be the outcome. he
entire structure 81 Wilson diplomacy
would be destroyed the entire purpose
or his Journeys 20 Paris would be de-
fcated and he could not escape respon-
s.bilify His course has provoked the
senate 20 anger against him with much
Justification. and has tended 10 pro-
duee dlscord al "a 3uneture where the
highest interest 81 the nation demaadedl
concerted action. Putting aside his
many partisan acts a a time when hei
said that politics is adjourned. his g
appeal iasf October FOR the election
~ a democratic congress stirred Just
Indignation among Republicans who
had supported every war measure With
both the constitution and the cause
Of peace demanded that the whole
treaty making power act Ia close ac- b
cord. he ignored che senate BY not O
consulting IL and he remained In parisi "a
snsn hlz presence in this country wasi "
urgently needed. This conduct Eayel a
his opponents In the senate an inccn- o
tive and opportunity 10 view With a o.
hypocritical eye q treaty which must d
deal with an unprecedented si,uatiorl h
must make prscsdsnts, especially rvrl e
lhis nation. and must therefore offerI b
abundant scope for criticism. Ia
Though the president has the rcpn- Il
tasiop Of being rsuliful reader OF 81
public opinion. he erred sadly On thig Of
There prevailed an over r.
whsininK sentiment IN favor OF the cl
general idea Of a leagie OF nations 20 +,
preserve peace He assumed that this Of
sentiment would. ar a matter 81 course hi
Be enlisted in favor Of THE league
scheme which he brought from Paris.
igrore the senate with impunity In o.
sgotiating tAs treaty. "a no coai c.