Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-15

in its possession. Can the President
devote the time to inform the SEN
ate on the bearings and significance
of which he arbitrarily robbed it at
the outset?, Or will he deliberately
leave half the treaty making power
in the dark as to why's and where
fores and expect to get away with
It?
We have consistently maintained
that, first of all, this is an American
question; that the American people
as a body are for a League of Ma
tions that, in every way possible to
devise guarantees the peace of the
world (by friendly Intervention and
advice whenever possible. by eco
nomic pressure as a next measure,
and by physical force when neces-
sary); that we are for the best that
can be had as a basis for revision;
that such ground work must be i'm
proved upon as time goes on; that
We MUST NOT miss this first oppor-
tunity in the life of civilization, to
establish a beginning of Rights SUI
premacy over Might. All along we
have advocated discussion and the
bringing out Of every feature, good
and bad. for the enlightenment of
the people. We believe that the
Lodge Lowell debate cleared the at
mosphrc and was felt in the peace
conference at Versailles. We feel
that the clear-cut criticism of Root
and Knox and Hughes had weight
with the representatives of other ma
tions if not without our own. We feel
sure that the adoption of the Root
amendment would have disarmed
much Of the opposition; and We are
sure that three fourths Of the Amer
lean people have been disappointed in
the conduct Of the peace negotiations.
particularly with the one-man DOM
ination that has alienated friendships
and following for the high ideal
But here We are, at critical Pc
Rod with a good big kernel of the
fine thing we had in mind. We know
it can be improved; that it can and
must grow. And, solemnly, we are
confronted by the knowledge that if
we destroy this nucleus none Of us
in this generation and perhaps for
many more generations, will see an
other provided.
We must not commit such stu
pendous folly. Let US forget our
prejudices. Let us forget Woodrow
Wilson's part. Let us forget politics.
Let US compromise where necessary
and correct where possible. Let us
discuss and permit others to exprss
, their views-even unto the U. S. Sen
ate-but let us hold fast to that in
/ hand. improve it now if we can, and
| hope for further and better strength
ening as time goes on.
Again quoting the Transcript:
! The Senate can take one of four
courses. once the treaty is submitted
~ Ratify it as submitted; (2) reject il
as submitted: 90 ratify It with amend
ments; % ratify it with reservations in
serted Immediately before the sigma :
lures of the American signatores. 1t
the Senate will separate the terms of
the treaty OF peace from the terms of
the British plan for the future organi-
cation of the world. the treaty can then
be ratified and it's enforcement, so far
as the United States is evolved, en-
trusted to an International commission.
But why separate them, with the
probable loss of the League kernel?
Why not consider it and amend it, if
, necessary to meet the clarified opin-
ion of the treaty-making power, and
pass upon it with the rest of the
treaty? AS we said before, there
seems to be sane and safe footing be-
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