The spectator., 1919-06-13
that someone accidentally has hit the

d1VlQudllv uO not KnOW JuSt what they can do in the way of amending the treaty or the covenant, and to have the amendment stand without, so far as the United States is concerned, com hitting both great documents to the wastebasket. There are senators to- day who are opposed to the league of nations as 1t stands, and to some ex- tent to the treaty of peace, who are ready to admit that possible sanction will come for both documents without the variation of hair from the line of the originals.
 There are other senators who say that 1t will be perfectly feasible to amend either document and to have the amendments quickly sanctioned by the other powers. This is talking in a fog so far as these senators are con- cerned, because so great Is the uncer- tainty concerning procedure that even the wise ones do not know today just what must be done on the other side to put into effect such amendments as the senate may suggest, If there is q disposition to accept such amend unents.
 Gropng in the Fog.
 There has been considerable diff culty in getting definite information as to whether or not parliamentary ac- ton of the various countries involved, ignoring the United States. is neces- sary to put the league treaty into full off tnr hoS said that the plenipotentiaries of all countries except the United States have full power to act for their govern ments and that no ratification is nec- eSsary. Another senator has said that the parliamentary bodies of all coun- tries must acquiesce. IL is, of course, matter of definite knowledge that in some cases the plenipotentlaries' act is final. but in some cases 1t is not The illustration is given simply to show how many senators are groping.
 It may be that the senate will sue ceed in securing a majority vote to separate, for the purposes of consider ation the treaty of peace and the GOV enant of the league, but seemingly the two things are so interwoven that If the separation comes it will be difficult to sanction them separately without great many explanations which may so befuddle the whole situation that the United States might as well be considered out of the thing for long time to come.
 Many Changing Their Views.
 Not for years has there been so much difficulty in determining the ac- tual position of individual senators on any question. As matter of fact the views of many of the senators have changed from day to day as different reports have come from the other side concerning final changes in the cove nant.
 Message and Majority Program.
 The day that congress opened the Republicans and the Democrats began putting bills into the leSis- lative min. The Republicans may or may not have been surprised when they discovered twenty-four hours later that many of the measures which they as members of the dominant party in congress hnd framed were along lines of legislation which the president advised should be followed in hiS com munication to senate and house.
 It is possible that this Is the first time in the history of the republic that so far as presidential suggestions are concerned an opposition party has found itself largely in accord with the chieftain of the enemy party. The presidents message was written some days before the Republican legislative measures saw the light, but as the news of the Republican action reached the people twenty-four hours ahead of that of the Democratic action. the party dominant in congress probably will claim the credit for taking the initiative.
 So far as legislation, as at present outlined by the leaders of Republican ism, is concerned. there seems to be only the tariff upon which there is wide difference of opinion between the Republican congressional majority and the administration. Of course as the session goes on the Republicans will develop new legislative policies which may or may not be in accord with the presidential views, but today :he tar fir looms as the one big post marking the way 10 the field of differences.
 Working Along the Same Lines.
 The treaty of peace and the cove nant of the League of Nations will fur nish the hard gloves for the ring con test in the senate, but as these mat ters supposedly arc removed from the field of partisanship it seems that SC far as prcsent-day indications are con. cerned the Republican congress and the administration are determined to run along the same line.
 The president opened his message with q discussion of the labor situa- ton. There Is more politics n labor than in the tariff. The Republicans have not yet definitely formulated