Evening star., 1919-02-25
PRESIDENT AND SENA TIE
WILL WAGE MOST ACUTE
CONTESTU. S. HAS, KNOWN
Mr.. Wilson to Make
Appeal to Hearts
"Back Home"
Opposers Fear Sentiment
May OUercome Legal
Argument.

N0y StCf fAoEtC ASAut
Argument.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.
Among senators today there was
complete realization of the fact that
the greatest contest between the execu-
tive and the treaty ratifying power
which the country has ever witnessed
is now on
They feel that it is to be the most
spectacular coming to grips ever en-
gagged in and understand thoroughly
that President Wilson is determined
to exert his will
Relies on Country"
President Wilson, as they conten-
plated the situation today, proposes
to take the Senate on the flank and
in the rear. He is not going to ask
the Senate to accept his league of ma
tions plan; he proposes to have the
Constituting the speech in Boston
led to that conclusion, and before
noontime today word of his inten-
tions had reached senators from those
who have been in touch with the
President. The President has thrown
down challenge to his opponents in
the Senate and they are fully in
formed of it.
Adopts effective Way"
Supporters of the President in the
Senate said today that he has gone
a bout the effort of winning ratifica-
tion of his league of nations plan in
the way calculated TO be the most ef-
fective. He has appealed, they said,
to the heart of the American people,
to their humanity.
These friends of the President in
the Senate declared with feelings OF
exultaton that he has touched the
psychological note which will give
the most telling response He Will
continue. they said, to arouse sym
pathy Of the people Of this cpuntry
| and set in motion a wave OF senti-
mental feeling which these senators
beiieye viii sweep the opposition on
| its feet. fss.z
Thoroughly confident were these
| friends of the President in the Sen
ate that the most profound legal ar
guments of the opponents OF the plan
will be overwhelmed and submerged
by the onsweeping tide of sentiment
and sympathy which the President
has started in motion and viii con-
tinue to impel.
They asserted that it will be i'm
possible for the greatest legal lights
in the Senate. opposing the treaty, to
command the attention of the people
to their arguments, comparable to
the attention which the Presidents
appeals on the heart side:of the great
question will get from. the mass OF
the people.
League Advocates Optimistic.
They therefore look forward conf
IDENTIFY to the prospect of the Presi-
dent figuratively marching TO the Cap
itoI at the head of great popular
movement and demanding that the
Senate ratify the plan. The adVo-
Gates of the league of nations were
optimistic to the highest degree to-
day.
dents plan of the league OF nations
were not unmindfuI Of the possibiii-
ties of the situation as thus outlined.
They realized fully that they are fac
ing a dangerous outlook They are
quite well aware of the potentaIties
of an appeal such as the President is
to voice and of a campaign such as
he has embarked upon.
To Point Out Menace.
Opposition will not be abated, how
ever, at least until that threatened pop
ular uprising of sentiment and sym
pathy has materialized- Senators VIII
tha
Americas future in the league OF ma
tionS plan they view 1t
They aid today they VIII take their
chances of their words of warning
reaching the people, being cons1dered
by the people and taking effect The
opposition senators will pick up the
gauntlet thrown down by the PreSi-
dent for contest TO the bitter end
If it is to be a contest based upon
an appeal to sentiment, to the heart
of humanity upon the one SIDE ana an
appeal to facts which they Will assert
as facts on the other, they are Wiling
to ''go to it
Some Diners Won't Be Bound.
1t was said at the Capitol today
that if President Wilson, at the din
ner to the foreign relations committee
tomorrow night, insists upon the meet
ing being considered confidential, some
committeeman will depart from the as
sembly It-was declared that they will
not allow themselves to be bound IN
confidence to keep anything which is
to be told them from the people.
Senators have not been advised
whether the President intends to ad-
dress Congress in joint session or
not 1t was learned from the White
House that the President has not Yet
made up his mind. The belief at the
CapitoI was that he will not address
Congress, but will get his views De-
fore the people in other ways
Pressure From "Back Home.7
This they assume to be a part of
his campaign to move upon the Sen
ate on the flank and turn the oppos-
ing senators in the rear by pressure
upon them from home.
1t was the unanimous opinion of
and opponents OF the Pres
ident that the most acute contest be-
tween the executive and the Senate
which history records will be waged
from today.
AIRMEN SET PRECEDENT.
nQs Nolxa ETre{ E1sDh{