Evening star., 1919-09-26
PRESIDENT Judge"
Of SENATE ACTION,
HE MAKES CLEAR
Lawrence Says He Will De-
eide If Pact Is Rejected
by Changes.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Special Dispatch to The Star

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
EN- ROUTE TO OKLAHOMA CITY,
september 26. - President Wilson
struck in Colorado practically the
same7ktnd of apathy that ne found in
onio. Possibly there is today a re-
Vived interest in Ohio, but it is never
theless true that until the President
or his leading opponent Senator john
son of California, started making a
tour OF the country most people had
taken only casual interest in the
league of nations and peace treaty.
Colorado, for instance. has not heen
touched by Mr.. johnson at all. and un-
III Mr. Wilson came the only utter
ance OF Importance was one by Sena-
tor Thomas. who indicated that he
would not support the covenant with
out reservations.
debate and awaken interest in the
league OF nations by his speeches at
DenVer and Pueblo. The demonstra-
tlon at the Auditorium in Dem
yer when he ventured the belief that
ne was Speaking for the American
very impressive one. It is interesting
20 note that even in cities where scat
terlng applause is given Mr.. Wilson's
arguments largely because the sub
Ject matter of world politics is still
acaoemic and remote to most of his
OF enthusiasm as the President ma YES
general statement expressing conf
oence that the people are behind him,
Women interested.
1t is evident, TOO. that the women
are especially interested, and the
President never fails to get a re-
sponse when he describes the terri
pie weapons OF the last war and the
even more destructive Instruments
that would be used, III the nsxt war.
The desire to be rid Of all way "a the
ssse : saa s;iie Sss s;35 q % g
~ kss 81 the LEAGUE Of nations dIa.,
cnssson somethfng concrete. y ss.7 s
Fresfdehf Wilson Is now hammerinr
away at his opponents, ,charE1nT
some OF them with being anxious to
destroy the treaty and league by the
indirect means of attaching jokers
and Reservations" that are really
amendments. The President talks re-
spectfully and courteously Of the So
i
was only when q new draft Of article
x 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 indirection.
make the issue clear.
After declaring that "hyphens are
the knives that are being stuck into
his document the President issued
challenge at Denver to his opponents
to give the real reason for delay and
defined his own future course in un-
mfstakable language.
Time for Decision, he Says.
"It is time that we knew" he said,
where we shall stand, for observe,
my fellow citizens, the negotiation Of
treaties rests with the Executive of
the United States. When the Senate
has acted it will be for me to de-
termine whether its action consti-
tutes an adoption or a rejection. ]
do not wish to draw doubtful con-
ciusions. I do not wish to do injus-
tice to the process of any honest
mind, but when that treaty is acted
upon / must know whether 1t means
we have ratified 1t or rejected it"
The foregoing paragraph is the key
to the next steps in the great contro-
T.
Wilson serves notice that he has no
objection to reservations that are, as
he says. a multiplication of words"
by which you can make simple words
speak their meaning more distinctly"
but he most decidedly opposes quail
fications'' which mean asking special
exemptions and privileges, for the
In other words. the President. while
=
veals that while he would be loath
to abandon his original position in
favor Of an absolute acceptance Of
the treaty as signed at Paris, never
theless, he sees that he cannot very
well object to reservations that are
simply a paraphrase of his own state
ments of interpretations in public
speeches.
practically Accepts"
Indeed. he practically accepts what
formerly was the position Of the mild
reservationists, though he thinks
some of their suggestions are super
fluous, because already covered In the
language of the treaty. 1t is when
the mild reservationists appear to
join the extremists in limiting the
nature of Americas obligation under
the covenant that the President steps
in and calls a halt
People in the Senate may not think
the President would dare to proclaim
the rejection of the treaty, but he
feels SO intensely on the subject that
he will unquestionably do 50 If he
thinks any reservations put into the
ratifying resolution alter the mean
ing of the contract in the treaty
When the President reminded his
hearers at Denver that the power to
negotiate treaties rests with the Ex-
ecutive he was uttering a warning to
the Senate and the country as to the
course which he would be compelled
to adopt If the Senate changed the
meaning OF the treaty.
Confusion Over Words.
There has been much confusion
over the use, of the terms, ''ratifica-
ton" and adoption" As a matter
of fact, the actual vote Of the Senate
merely adopts" treaty, and 1t is
diplomatic precedent for the Presi-
dent of the United States to perform
the act of ratification" itself by for
NAL notice to other ,powers or by
nro,1, tfnn IT he IT,