Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-04-18
the proper functions of the Senate in


project. He quoted from a speech by
Senator Lodge on January 90, 1906,
in which Mr.. Lodge upheld President
Roosevelt for having appointed dele
gates to the Algeciras conference to
adjust the Moroccan trouble without
having consulted the Senate.
Mr.. Cummings first quoted Senator
John c. Spooner. then Chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
as expressing that view. to which
Senator Lodge specifically assented.
and went on:
"On the following day Senator
Lodge, in Il more elaborate state
ment. used these words:
No one. l think. can doubt the
absolute power of the President to
initiate and carry on all negotiation.
There is no doubt that the
Senate can by resolution advise the
President TO enter upon negotia-
ton, or to advise the President to
refrain from negotiation. but these
resolutions have no binding force
whatsoever. and the action
OF the Senate becomes operative
treaty is actually submitted to 1t. We
have no possible right to break sud
denly into the middle Of a negotia-
ton and demand from the President
what instructions he has given to his
representative. That part of treaty
making is no concern of ours.
1t. is a mere invasion of the pow RS
and rights Of the President, if we
are to plunge in at a stage Of the
negotiations where we have no bust
ness, and demand from him the in
structions which he has given to his
properly appointed representatives
When the treaty made by those rep
resentatives comes before US then is
the time. and not before, in which
we can properly ask for information
! in regard to all which led up to- it,
THE foregoing quotation ought
to make an end, for all time, of the
! 1lladvised and unjuStifiable criticism
to which President Wilson has been
subjected for supposed ignoring of
the Senate. Indeed, President Will
son has gone further in the matter
! of satisfying the Senate than pre-
NOUS Presidents have done. He has
submitted to individual Senators and
Members Of the House, making up
the great Committees on Foreign Re-
latioES. the details of the pending
covenant of peace, and; indeed, the
terms Of the proposed League have
been printed and distributed broad
! cast over the country.
ION the same day that Senator
Lodge committed himself as to the
| meaning of the words advise and
consent he also expressed some
ideas concerning 'entangling ALI
ances' which are very pertinent at
the present time. Senator Lodge.
on tn day mentioned, January "a,
1915, speaking in the Senate. said:
The idea that there is something
, very strange and novel in our join
ing with other nations in the settle
ment by treaty of matters affecting
| commercial questions, or. indeed,
other questions, is a wholly mistaken
! one. The famous warning against
entangling alliances which is embod-
! led in the Washington Farewell Ad-
dress, as every one is aware. grew
out Of the troubles which Washing
ton endured on account Of our alli-
ance with France, but he was
altogether to sensible and too prac-
teal man to suppose that. because
we were not to engage in alliances
which might involve us in the wars
OF Europe. in which we had no con-
Germ, therefore. we were never to
engage in any agreements with any
nations Of Europe, no matter how
beneficial they might be to the world
at large or to ourselves.
If the principle were carried out
that we were never to join with any
other countries, that entangling al
liances meant anything of that kind,
most of the great and beneficial
| things which have been achieved by
international agreement, would have
become impossible to u.s."
In opening his statement. Mr.. Cum
mings remarked that "a careful OBJ
server of the trend Of public opinion
cannot fail to note that opposition to
the League of Nations is rapidly
crumbling."