South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-29
Other Editors Than Ours
DISCHARGE THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COM
NuTTE1It; LOT THE SENATE ACT.
Fort Wnvnc journal GazctieD

The American people may not count much
i'm the opinion Of the senators who were carefully
selected TO pack foreign relations committee of
the against the League Of Nations, but they
have right demand that if these gentlemen
unable 10 reach a decision or make a recon-
mendation, that they confess their lncompetency
and Immediately report the treaty back TO the
ate action the floor
1t is manifesty TO the interest of all in this coun-
try as well throughout the world that early
decision be reached. Enough time has elapsed for
any intelligent body of men 10 act There isn't a
member of the senate, or for that matter on the
committee, who does not know precisely where he
stands upon the treaty.
This does not imply that all who know what they
think about the treaty satisfied to what is
with the treaty for party purposes.
But for the party embarrassment the treaty would
be either ratified rejected.
The democrats with and possibly TWO excep-
lions unanimously in favor of ratification.
The republicans split hOpelessy, some like
Borah and Johnson demanding simple reflections,
thinking that this reservation viii furnish
loop hole of escape and others that another reserva
ton viii best the purpose, while some. like
Knox propose TO Kill the treaty through amend
ments They unable TO agree.
is necessary that they for the purpose
of a vote on the floor of the senate each senator
in his vote will be answerable his constituents
But the embarrassment is in the committee If
Borah and Johnson Fan and Brandegee would
agree to reservations. an the republicans the
committee could agree. if Lodge and some like him
would agree TO recommend plain rejection the COM
mittee could agree: but since the factions
not agree action is taken and the country waits
There s no 10 believe that an agree
ment can be reached by the committee and
common sense proposition the committee should
have enough respect for the interests of the
TO SO report 10 the fun and there let every
man stand for himself and the devil take the last
ditchers
II the COMMITTEES itself hesitates TO publicly con-
fess that the game OF packing the committee AGAINST
the League has proven boomerang and that the
committee the first time in American history,
useless senatorial appendage. then il is the mani
fest duty of some member of the senate TO move
that the committee be discharged from further
sderatiou Of the treaty This viii bring the trouble
10 a definite issue
After the treaty reaches the floor OF the
for action safely count prolonged debate
or better perhaps say prolonged talk.
This will delay action for weeks and perhaps
months And that would be nothing less than
tional scandal
There is something in the senate that is politely
called 10y senators senatorial courtesy" and by the
average OF intelligence outside the senate some
thing else Perhaps this exquisite OF "courtesy
viii dissuade any from making the motion 10
discharge he committee.
There something outside the senate known as
popular indignation and perhaps senators should
have the opportunity to weigh the relative import
ance OF senatorial courtesy and popular indigna-
ton"
The president as he negotiator OF the treaty has
done his work and the senate expected % act
and without Dettness