The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-06
THE PRESIDENT AND THE
TREATY

Tho most astounding jackass that has
Sver kicked or hee-ha~cd his way into
the Congress OF tho United States is
Senator J. Hamilton Lewis. Of Illinois.
Tho people OF Illinois have taken the
measure Of tho man who has mtsrepre-
scented them in the upper branch Of
Congress for the past SIX years. and
hr. Lewis term OF service will end on
the 4th Of March Apparently he ts
anxious TO make the last few months
Of his career a little more conspicuous
for noisy idiocy than ever the past five
years have been. In the Senate last
week Mr.. Lewis made tho charge that
the Republican members Of the Senate
had entered into a conspiracy TO dis
credit the President. and then pro-
cccded to serve notice upon the neSo-
tiators OF Europe that there was no law
BY constitution. statute or custom. by
which the President is under any ohli-
cation not to do what he is now doing
without submitting to the Senate or any
other legislative body. L inform the
negotiators." he shrleked. that the
present undertakings OF the President
of the United States arc as commander
in chief OF the armies. and that he will
remain such. with full power. until the
treaty or compact OF peace has been
finally accepted
very clearly places the treaty making
power in the hands Of the United States
Senate. The President or his minis
tcrs may negotiate. 1t is their duty
prcparc treaties. to discuss terms
with :he Representatives OF other coun-
tries and 10 frame propositions 10 be
submitted to ;hc Senate but the Senate
has the final word. and no treaty, ooli-
cation or agreement becomes binding
upon the American people until it has
the approval Of tho Senate. 1t Is TO be
assumed. OF course. that the Senate will
accord to any treaty submitted TO it
BY the President OF the United States
. the courtesy and the careful considera-
= ton which ought 70 be given TO great
E public measure. and. on the other hand.
" it should be assumed that tho President
Of tho United States, In negotiating 4
treaty. will take into consideration the
opinions. the advise and the suggestions
OF the members OF that body. which
must finally pass upon his work
Should either the Senate or the Presi-
dent fail in this courtesy. or fail in
this patriotic consideration. the party so
Ealing fails IN the performance Of a
great public duty. Mr.. Wilson has seen
1T. apparently. TO ignore the Senate OF
the United States, either in the discus
sion OF tho consideration Of a great in
:ternational agreement Neither he, nor
his apolosists for him. can claim the
rights to consideration which he has not
extended to another branch Of the gov
eminent which has equal power with
him. and the final power to pass upon
his acts. II an absurd egotism had not
prevented Mr.. Wilson from, associatinG
with himself. in the negotiation Of the
treaty. some representative Of the body
= that must finally pass on his work. the
rather unpleasant. stu" ion at Wash
= ington would no, have occurred. That
it has so developed is purely the Preei-
dents making. Perhaps the treaty
which the President will help negotiate
at Versailles will b. confirmed without
serious objection by IN" Senate. Per-
haps it vii! not. If +, is not. 1t will
be largely due to the Presidents failure
to consult with the men whom the con-
: stitution Of the United States makes.
not only his advisers. but the sharers
% of his responsibilities in this great
matter.