The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-10
PEACE BEFORE BIG
STORM Of DEBATE
WILSON
Writer Pictures Tranquility
at White House Following
Presidents Return as Only
Calm Before Tornado.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent Of the News
ScImltarl


WASHINGTON, July 10.-Only a flut-
tering flag on the top Of the White
House yesterday denoted the return OF
President wilson Fountains played on
the lawn, birds twittered. police guards
lounged beneath the big trees or at the
IRON gates, and the White House Of
iicers wore their usual look OF emptl-
ness, Everybody supposed that the
president was busy unpacking grips.
senator Lodge, Republican chairman
OF the senate foreign relations commit
tee, didn't call nor did any Demo-
cratic senator's leave their cards or drop
In 10 say hello.
Tranquility, peaceful n benignant,
enVeloped the executive end Of the
avenues sort, OF calm before the
storm. Fol inside his study the presi-
dent was putting the finishing touches
TO MS address to congress-. He sum
moned Joseph p. Tumulty, private see
rotary. very early and the latter func-
tlonary received the correspondents and
gave them the benefit Of the few de-
eisions the president has already been
able to make.
Mr.. Wilson will not leave here for two
weeks. His itinerary for the Western
trip which will extend to the Pacific
coast will be mapped out In the inter-
Nening period. The president will re-
view the new Pacific fleet. And In the
next fortnight Mr.. Wilson will be at the
disposal of any committee Of congress
to explain the peace treaty league Of
nations and European situation.
Before going to the country, in other
words, Mr.. Wilson win tell the senators
all they wish TO know. He win give
them all the background and informa-
ton which couldn't be put into the
normal language Of a presidential ad-
dress aF mara treaty. lie Will ltg1,,ag
matters with the senate in open or Sc
cret session, according as the senators
may desire.
Will Tell All.
And The president ia ready to tell In
detail. just what has been happening In
those meetings Of the big five or big
four or big three and OF the ups and
downs Of the peace conference. OF the
things that seemed to block agreement.
OF the questions upon which concession
and Cancellation were found necessary
and inevitable; indeed of the whole task
OF compromising the rival wishes and
desires Of more than 20 nations.
The president is confident His pri-
waite secretary was today bubbling over
with enthusiasm.
Those receptions in New York and
Washington were wonderful" he said.
To be sure the welcome in the ma
h'' NAB'NNi Nph y Abl NlllGl y No
appeal had been made to the people to
come out to greet the president. no ad-
NertIsing campaigns had been carried
on In advance. Even the hour OF the
presidents arrival was uncertain. Yet
the crowds waited until nearly mid
night and broke into a spontaneous
cheer when the president did come.
Washington CAV no such welcome to
her own troops who came back from
overseas.
Naturally MIR, Wilson ia inspired. Stlll
the cheers came from the people. Three
blocks away from the Union station. 80
senators hold dominion. The Democrats
were glad the president came back.
They needed his leadership and stimu-
lus, Some of the Republicans were
glad. too--they believed MIR. Wilson
never should have gone to Europe, hut
should have delegated the task to some
body else. Still another group OF Re
publican senators read Mr.. Wilson's
opening speeches and smiled. To them
he seemed to have said the same things
he had expressed On many an occa-
sion-'glitterink generallties."
There Is q class In the senate so much
OF odds with Mr.. Wilson that anything
Mr.. Wilson might say would fan on
deaf, II not indifferent, ears. Their
votes. Mr.. Wilson knows, arc readable
only through their respective constitu-