The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-05-24

Cedar Rapids Republican: The
Philadelphia Public Ledger, which i:
( the paper of which Mr. Taft is ont
OF the editorial writer's. and in which
! his best articles on the league o.
nations have appeared, has printed
the most remarkable article on the
present treaty-situation that has ap
peared in the press OF the nation.
We must accept that il was printed
with the knowledge and consent o!
Bar. Taft, who is consulting and
advising editor of that paper. The
remarkable editorial, occupying more
I than column of space. wide
/ measure. interlarded with blacl
: faced types is headed: Senate
Must Fight for Its Constitutional
Rights" and a sub-head. 1T must
/ not permit either cunning or compul
sion 10 rob * of its treaty making
powers" II presents the presiden,
as in effect seeking 10 abrogate the
! constitution OF the United States and
/ in order 10 win personal victory
over the senate TO change the very
form of the American government.
II speaks of "adroit indirection" and
it says that Eve cannot permit any
collection of potentates 10 rivet to-
gether doculent 10 be crammed
down our threats"
That changes the viewpoint of one
OF the papers Of America that have
been acquiescent TO degree that
has almost alarmed some of US. But
in order that the full force of fits
changed position may be seen we
will quote some of the vital sections
OF this long editorial in the Phila-
deIphia paper, the Public Ledger.
To begin with it says:
Whatever anybody has done or
has not done in Paris, we may
surely assume that they have
not amended the American con-
stitution. That is quite beyond
the power of anybody over there.
including the big four or the
little twenty-five or the plenary
peace conference or the league
OF nations or even President
Wilson himself.
That constitution definitely as
sociates the senate with the
president as a joint custodian of
our treaty-making power. 1t de-
ciares that The (the president)
shall have power, by and with
the advice and consent of the
senate, to make treaties, pro-
yided two-thirds OF the senators
present concur" He has no
power whatever TO make treaty
without the consent of the SEN
ate.
That restriction on the presi-
Dental power was not put in tis
constitution by accident. 1t was
put there to prevent one man.
however honored or powerful,
from binding this nation n its
foreign relations unless he
secured the consent of two-thirds
of the peoples representatives
elected to our more deliberative
chamber.
When the president sailed for Paris
the second time he uttered in def
ance of the senate the threat that he
would bring back the treaty SO inter
woven with his league that the sen-
ate would not dare to reject it, for
it would upset the peace OF the world
TO do SO. On this the Ledger says:
The suggestion is being cabled
from Paris and wired from Wash
ington that President Wilson has
by adroit indirection practically
abrogated this constitutional re-
striction on his own power.
Greater nonsense could not be
Written. 1t is no compliment TO
the personnel OF the American
senate to hint that they would
sit tamely down under any such
artfuI attack upon their constitu-
fionaI powers. They are surely
men of sufficient stamina and
political stature and acumen to
be thoroughly capable OF defend
ing and enforcing their right and
duty to share In the making OF
every treaty which proposes to
bind the American people, and
especially Of treaty Of the I'M
paralleled magnitude, the wide
scope and the tremendous con-
sequences OF that now being con-
sidered by the German delega-
ton.
By way of comment on this extra
ordinary situation the Public Ledger
proceeds to say:
II the treaty Is compiled or
interviewer In any such manner
as will serve to balk the senate,