Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-26
WILSON WILL
BE JUDGE OF
PACT'S FATE
Is for Him to Decide if
Senate's Action Adopts
or Rejects It.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

/ Copyright, 1919; by The Argus).
Enroute to Washington, D. c.,
Sept. 26.-President Wilson struck
in Colorado practically the same
kind of apathy that he found in Ohio.
Possibly there is today a revived
interest in Ohio, but it is neverthe-
less true that until the president or
his leading opponent, Senator John
son of California, started making
tour of the country most people
had taken only a casual interest
in the League of Nations and peace
| treaty. Colorado for instance has
not been touched by Mr.. Johnson
at all and until Mr.. Wilson came
the only utterance of Importance
was one by Senator Thomas, who
indicated that he would not support
the covenant without reservations.
People Behind Him.
But the president did eniiven the
debate and awaken interest in the
League of Nations by his speeches
at Denver and Pueblo. The dem
Onstration at the auditorium in
Denver when he ventured the be-
lief that he was speaking for the
American people and had their
support was a very impressive one.
1t is interesting to note that even
in cities where scattering applause
is given Mr. Wilson's arguments,
largely because the subject matter
of world politics is still academic
and remote to most of his hearers,
there is always an outburst of en-
n hn
general statement expressing con-
fidence that the people are behind
him.
1t is evident, too, that the wom-
en- are especially interested and the
president never fails to get a re-
sponse when he describes the ter
rible weapons of the last war and
the even more destructive instru-
ments that would be used in the
next war The desire to be rid of
all war in the future is the angle
of the argument that comes close
to home and usually makes of the
League of Nations discussion some
thing concrete.
Ask Reason for Delay.
And President Wilson is now
charging some of them with being
anxious to destroy the treaty and
league by the indirect means of at
taching jokers and reservations
that are really amendments. The
president talks respectfully and
courteOusly of the so-called mild
reservationists" and it was only
when a new draft of article 10 of
the covenant was reported as
agreed upon by Senator Lodge and |
the mild reservationists that the
president thought he detected signs |
of defeating the treaty by indirec- |
ton. lie decided it was time for |
him to make the issue clear. After |
declaring that "hyphens are the /
knives that are being stuck into /
this document" the president is /
sued a challenge at Denver to his !
opponents to give the real reason !
for delay and defined his own fu- |
ture course in unmistakable Ian /
guage.
1T is time that we knew" he /
said, where we shall stand, for 4,
observe, my fellow citizens, the ne
gotiation of treaties rests with the {
When the senate has acted it will !!
be for me to determine whether its
action constitutes an adoption or a
rejection. l do not wish to draw
doubtful conclusions. 1 do not
wish to do injustice to the
process of any honest mind. But
when that treaty is acted upon 1
must know whether it means we
have ratified it or rejected it"
Against Qualifications.
The foregoing paragraph is the
key to the next steps in the great
now going on in the
senate. Mr.. Wilson serves notice
hat he has no objection to reser-
Tations that are, as he says,
multiplication of words" by which
you can make simple words speak
heir meaning more distinctly" but
lie most decidedly opposes quail
icG-ions" which mean asking "spe-
,iaI exemptions and privileges for
he United States"
In other words, the president
while not saying it in so many
words. reveals that while he would
,e loathe to abandon his original
)OSlLlOH N LdNOT Ol al dDSOtule dC- /
.eptance of the treaty as signed at
Paris, nevertheless he sees that he
.annot very well object to reserva-
ions that are simply a paraphrase
# his own statements or interpre-
ations in public speeches. Indeed
le practically accepts what fo--
merely was the position Of the mild s
eservationists, though he thinks '
ONE of their suggestions are sup
rf1uous because already covered in
he language of the treaty. 1t is |
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