The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-15
President Concerned.

Opponents Of the league accepted the
division in ranks with satisfaction and
the story got nationwide publicity, In
stantly came the denials. Secretary
Tumulty, who was on the Jersey coast
for the weekend, %telephoned u denial,
which was Issued promptly to the press,
Senator Hitchcock's alert secretary de.
lied that Hitchcock had abandoned the
fight.
The president was somewhat con-
cerned ove the newspaper stories. He
probably looked upon them AS an at
tempt to make mischief, Anyway, the
first thing he did upon rising today
was to inquire when Senator Hitch
cock would be back, And the Me-
braska senator hadn't been in town m
hour when the telephone bell rams and
the presidents cheerful voice came over
the wire.
Mr.. Wilson told the senator he hoped
there hadn't been any annoyance over
the published stories, ana the Nebraska
senator answered, mot the slightest"
Indeed, what the general public didn't
know, but which leaked u upon the
return of the senator IN that on meet
Ing the president last Thursday, Mi.
Hitchcock observed that, OF course, Mr..
Wilson would be a busy mar for II
few days. and any time he wanted any
thing the senator would be at his SER
Vice, so 1t was quite natural for MIR.
Hitchcock to get n telephone cap from
the president and quite natural Cor both
to look upon the published stories as
wholly superfluouS.
The president talked at length with
the senator from Nebraska, outlining
what seemed best to be done In hand
ling the league of nations fight, MIR,
Wilson probably knew OF Senator
Lodges published statement that the
| president would be invited TO appear
| hnfnpa t1a upnatA fnraIuT YnlutI,yp. ,,,,,,
mittee TO explain various features of
the treaty, for he told Senator Hitch
cock he would be glad to invite the
entire membership OF the foreign rela e
tions committee to come to the White
House.
II the mountain wouldn't come to
Mahomet then Mahomot would 20 to
the mountain--anything to offset the
notion that the president will not con-
suit the senate or advise intimately
with It's members, n criticism which II
will be remembered has been flung at
the president repeatedly.
The Republican chairman Of the SEN
ate foreign relations committee, Mr..
Lodge, has held that u MIR. Wilson has
anything TO say, precedent says he shall
say II to the whole senate and not TO "A
committee thereof.
Mr. Wilson had made II clear that ho
wouldn't stand OF precedent, but would
attend meetings, II invited,
and be subjected to Interrogation, Real.
~, Mr., Wilson Is laying the foundation
for his appeal to the country. lie IN
leaving no stone unturned to make the
record clear. He told Senator Hitch.
cock, for instance, that IL the senate
committee didn't want to invite hin,
he would invite the senate committee
to come TO the white House AS Otter
as they chose, only he wanted a single
days notice In advance so he could re-
arrange or cancel other engagement
thai might be on the calendar.
The amusing feature which in the
midst Of even SO serious a piece Of bust.
ness as the senat has before II can not
but draw a smile from diSinterestgd oh
servers is the present anxiety of Mr.,
Wilson to see and talk with the senate,
! even to go to its committee whilst I,
few months back, the senator's were
more or less irritated because the pres
ident went off to Europe to negotiate
a treaty without taking anybody, Dem
oeratic or Republican senator's, into his
confidence. Pride and dignity entered
much in the relations between the eN.
eeutlve and legislative branches OF the
government, and II would be much
easier to predict the date Of the ratiu-
cation OF the treaty II a soothsayeF
would happen along and say when the
spirit of mutual forgiveness and recon
citation shall begin to permeate the
executive mansion, lately embellished
with q coat OF purity paint, as well as
the eloAkFooms of the capitol lateIy
augmented by many new senators from
a triumphant Republican party.
Copyright, 1912, by The News Scim.
INV