The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-08
TRIP WEAKENS
WILSON'S STAND
Senators See Desperation in
Angered Statements Made
in Western Speeches.
HIS CONTROL LOST EARLY
Five Democratic Members Re-
gret "Gibbet" and "Fight-
ing Blood" Talk.
HIS CONTROL LOST EARLY
Special psspatcA to tn. Sun.

To-Day 10 pause ana take STOCK OF the
net result of President Wilson's first
period of migratory oratory anti
league leaders in the Senate, after a
careful review of the situation, are
confident that thus far the trip has
weakened the Presidents position.
On the other hand the strength Of the
position Of the America first" Sem
ators has increased in exactly the
same proportion.
There is some amazement and more
amusement that Mr.. Wilson has been
betrayed SO early in the game into
losing control of himself and recon-
mending the hangman for his Sena-
torial foes. Old hands at the business
OF public speaking know we'll that
political profits from extravagant
seedlings are very thin.
Even Mr.. Wilson's supporters in the
Senate regret that he has resorted to
such tactics. Five Democratic Sena-
tors have so expressed themselves to
one Of the Republican Senators, and
this Senator is of the bitter end"
group who would reject the whole
league scheme and the treaty as well
and frame a more acceptable sub
stitute.
These particular developments have
been noted by anti-league leaders since
Mr.. Wilson left his post here last
Wednesday in his nationwide search for
league support. ~.
Moving to Reservation Camp.
The immediate influence and power Of
the President having been removed again
from Washington, Democratic Senators
are beginning to leave the Wilson camp
and take their places with the Senators
desiring reservations to the league cove
nanL
The President has taken the attitude
that his Senatorial opponents in the
league matter are worthy of the gibbet.
In his Kansas City speech yesterday
the President is on record before the
nation as putting the league first In his
estimation ahead OF his country.
The President has resorted to the
worn out and disproved assertion that
the league as he has framed 1t would
prevent war.
The President has failed to find a new !
excuse for the Shantung matter. despite
the fact that his own Secretary of State
assured the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee that the japanese delegates
would have signed the peace treaty II
Shantung was denied to them.
The President again has resorted to |
the extremely doubtful plea that a large |
standing army would have to be main !
tained II the league is not adopted as
he has approved 1t.
In the same breath the President has |
excused turning the Chinese province Of
Shantung over to Japan and declared !
that Article Y. OF the treaty will put
an end to "iand grabbing" by nations
Mr.. Wilson slngularly has failed to /
meet the explicit and particular argu- |
ments brought forward against his
league in the Senate.
Bid for Third Term IL Seen.
BY one construction of his Kansas
City speech the President has met the !
predictions of the Senate prophets and |
has given his tour the expected political
aspect by a veiled intimation that he
The Presidents plea for speed by the
Senate In disposng OF both the league
and the whole peace treaty is consid-
cred a peculiar one in view of his pres
ent deliberate and prolonged absence
from Washington. Most OF the Senators
have felt that 1t would not be proper to
ratify the treaty while the President is
away, particularly while he Is pleading
for it. In fairness to the President they
believe It is best to let him have Hrs say
without trying to ratify the treaty in his
absence.
There is a great deal of curiosity here
now about what the next tack on the :,
tour will be. There Is much
wonder about whether the present meth
cd of attacks will be maintained. So far
as the talk Of gibbetting his foes. talk OF
his "hghtins blood" which he has mem
toned before, and his calls to his Cow
ancestors are concerned It Is re-
garded as the angered utterances OF
desperate man.
As matters now stand the Admins
hopes for obtaining ratification
Of the pact and the covenant without
or reservation have never
been at 50 low an ebb. With more
than a dozen Senators. including three
decentralization Democrats, deserting
Lhe platform of take the treaty as II
stands" since the President started on
his tour. the chances for the success of
the Presidents plan have dwindled TO
such an extent that some OF his closest
advisers counsel accepting the inevitable
md seeking the best compromise rather
Lhan out and out victory. now generally
ldjudged unattainable.
Democratic Senators are being embar-
rassed by the fact that they cannot
tnFag - AL. |
square with the Presidents uncompro-
missing programme, No single Democrat
who has left the Administration band
wagon in 80 far as the league covenant I
programme Is concerned has relished
aking this action and all have reluc-
antly gone counter to the Presidents
Continued on Second Po0s.