The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-12-11
Treaty and Covenant of League
Killed for Present by the Ac-
ton of the Senate.
BOTH SIDES DISOWN BLAME
Ratification With Modified Reserva-
tons May Come at Next Session
Efforts to Avert Coal Shortage
Disaster-Presdent Will
son Summons New In
dustrial Confer
anen
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD.

The treaty with Germany, including
the covenant of the League of Nations,
is dead for the present so far as the
United States is concerned. Everyone
knows that, but opinions as to who
killed it differ irreconcilably.
The lethal dose administered to the
pact in the senate was compounded of
stubbornness desire for revenge, per-
sonal pride, partisanship and desire
to protect America against the more
or less imaginary plots of foreign ma
lions. Who contributed these various
elements the reader can tell as well as
the writer.
The firmness of the president and
his most ardent supporters lasted just
q little too long. Otherwise a compro-
mise might have been reached which
would have been measurably satisfac-
tory to all except few irreconcilables
so few that they would have been
showed under. But when Senator
Hitchcock took to Mr.. Wilson in his
sick room the news that Senator Lodge
and his followers had adopted the COM
mittee list of reservations, the presi-
dent declared he would pigeonhole. the
treaty if it were ratified in that shape,
and asked the Democratic senators to
vote solidly against the ratification.
He gave no hint that he would accept
any compromise, and the Republicans,
with the few Democrats who had stood
with them all through the fight, there
upon brought the matter to final vote
at once.
For four and a half hours there were
roll calls and parliamentary maneuv-
ers in the course of which Hitchcock
vainly tried to get vote on a mild
reservation resolution, but the Repub-
leans were too angry to listen to him
Twice the senate voted on the Lodge
resolution of ratification with reserva-
lions and twice it was defeated, the
first time by 80 to 55 and the second
time by Al to 81. Between these rol
calls vote was taken on Underwood,
resolution for unqualified ratification
This was beaten, SO to So. On the
Lodge resolution 13 Republicans voted
in the negative both times. These SEN
ators had declared themselves against
the treaty and league unreservedly.
The mild reservation Republicans
could have been captured for a COM
promise if Mr. Wilson and Senator
Hitchcock had started on that line
earlier, but as it was Lodge was able
to hold them in line throughout.
While the treaty is admittedly dead,
1t may be brought. to life at the regu-
lar session which begins Monday, De
cember /. If President Wilson re-sub-
mits it to the senate and shows a dis
position to accept modified reserva-
tons, it is not unlikely that it will be
ratified in such a way that the other
powers will acquiesce. The alterna-
tive before the senate will be adoption
Of the resolution introduced by Sen
ator Lodge just before adjournment
Wednesday night and referred to the
committee on foreign relations with
out debate. This declares the state
of war between the United States and
Germany to be at an end. 1t requires
the concurrence of the house but, ac-
cording to general practice, no action
by the president follows.
Senator Borah, one of the irreconcil-
ables, who wants to keep the United
States wholly aloof from the affairs of
the rest of the world, predicts that the
treaty, with the league covenant includ-
ed, and with the Lodge reservations
somewhat modified, will ultimately be
ratified. According to Mr.. Hitchcock,
many Of the reservations are objection