Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-08-07
VISITING THE WHITE HOUSE

VISITING THE WHITE HOUSE
Senator Arthur Capper in signed
article gives the following story Of
his visit at the White House when
the president sent for him along
with other senators to try to convert
him to the League of Nations plan
EXACTLY as Mr.. Wilson has written
| 1t:
BY his invitation / called on the
president at the White House one
day last week to discuss the German
peace treaty and the League of
Nations.
The president received me in the
large reception room just off the room
he uses as an office. No one else
was present. l spent an hour with
him. His manner was most friendly.
Whatever criticism the president
may have received in the past be-
cause of his aloofness, 1t is apparent
he doesn't purpose to give occasion
for this kind of criticism while the
Treaty is pending. Next to his ami
ability I was most impressed by the
nicely of his dress He was attired
in a blue serge coat, white flannel
trousers and the most immaculate of
white kid shoes. His cravat, or tie,
as we say out West, was tied with
punctillious care. I had observed
the same care in regard to his attireI
when he appeared before the Senatel
to deliver the Peace Treaty. Ger
tainly Woodrow Wilson deserves the
title of our "best dressed president"
Not in our time has any president
been so punctillious in regard to his
dress.
The president lost no time in COM
ing to the matter at issue. He
made 1t apparent he is seriously con-
cerned over the situation in Europe
and is emphatic in his view that an
early acceptance by us of the Treaty
and League Of Nations is imperative
to the restoration and preservation of
peace in those war-devastated coun-
tries. He indicated he was greatly
surprised at the opposition that had
developed in America to the League
Of Nations covenant, and said he felt
when he had brought the European
nations to an acceptance of the lea
que idea that the battle was won.
He had thought Americans were vir-
tually unanimous for the league and
had not anticipated hard fight to
obtain a ratification OF the pact.
The president did not ask me in
set terms to support the Treaty with
out change but his whole argument
was designed to show he was very
much opposed to any modification
whatever in the terms of the Treaty
and the League covenant. told
him. frankly there was growing OPP
position to the league In Kansas and
that, in my judgment, the Treaty
could not be adopted without modi-
fcations or reservations. I particul-
irly emphasized the necessity Of
making reservations in regard to
Article 10 of the League covenant,
20 that there could not be the slight
ast question about the right of Con-
yress to decide in each particular in
stance whether the United States
should send troops to any foreign
and. The president holds such
is unnecessary because
'oreign nations were advised by the
American ENJOYS at the Peace con-
lerence that under the American
Congress alone posses
led the war making power. / took
he position that, such being the
'ase, no harm but only good can
'ome from a specific reservation to
hat effect in the resolution of ratifi-
alton. ! told the president 1 favor
d a definite and unmistakable reser-
alton Of American rights under the
fonroe Doctrine.
The president went into the Shan
ing piracy by Japan in detail and 1 ]