New-York tribune., 1919-12-11
President Will Leave ssHis
Bed of Suffering to Lead
Fight for Adoption of
Covenant, Senator Saws
Big Loss to U. S. Feared
Sign Treaty and Prevent Ger.
many From Levying ON
: This Nation, Is Warming

nzed as the spokesman of the nat,ono,
Administration, last night announced
that President Wilson would arise
from his bed of suffering" and per-
sonally lead the fight for adoption Of
the league of nations covenant.
In the course of an address before
the New York Southern Society at the
Waldorf, the Senator reviewed the
various votes already. taken by the
Senate on the measure, and said he
stlli entertained hopes that it would be
adopted. To this he added the state
ment that the friends Of the league
were ready to accept reasonable reser-
81 the timid"
Coming to New York to speak for the
Administration so soon after his visit to
she White House in company with Sena-
pr Fall, the assurance that the Pres;.
lent would personally resume leadership
2 the par.y's fight for the league was
Rceoted as official and aroused q storm
q applause from those who attended the
Nhquet
Hi ,hcock Is Interrupted
In con ,fast to this general applause
was loud-voiced interruption that came
IN the midst of the speech. Senator
Hitchcock had just said that political
leaders were holding up ratification of
the league covenant while the whole
world shook with the danger of unse++laJ
wars
How can you say that, Senator ?"
demanded the voice.
senator Hitchcock paused q moment.
redeemed, then pointed finger at the
man who hal interrupted.
Because IS true" he said
Put him out!" Throw him out"
Get him ut quick!" exclaimed several
voices at once.
While the interrupter was being hur-
rled from the banquet hall he gave the
name of Walter Evans Hampton. a
lawyer at II Battery Place. He said
that he was not member Of the club.
put was guest of one Of its mem
bers.
= After few preliminary remarks
senator Hitchcock launched into his
discussion of the treaty.
~ IS hve months to-day since the
PRESIDENT of the United States brought
60 the Senate the German peace treaty
ano asked the Senate to advise and
consent to its ratification" he said.
- furious controversy has ragged in
the senate over this treaty during most
OF that time and after it all the great
document still rests in the Senate un-
u.
SITUATION thus presented is deplorable.
II involves consequences so alarming
.hat men may we'll look with anxiety to
the future.
National Peril Seen
Speaking simply of this country.
the failure to ratify leaves the United
States, at the end of costly war with
Germany, absolutely without any set
tlement. i,
1--WE lose Germany's acknowledge !,
nent of responsibility for the war and
Der promise to foot the bill of dam
ages and costs. We lose the right to
retain 600 900 tons of German ships |
which we seized in our ports, where /
Germany had left them when we were |
neutral and which the treaty in paw
ment for damages transfers to US.
I'VE lose the rights and privileges
for our ships in German ports which
the treaty gives. We lose Germany's
consent to validate the acts of the
goo worth of property in the United
States belonging to citizens of Ger
many and we will be held responsible
to them for its return. We lose the
right to reimburse out Of this fund to
our citizens the losses they suffered
in Germany or on the high seas by
German acts.
against US at some future time the
claim which she will make that we
forced the war on her and despoiled
her citizens in this country.
AT the present time In the Senate
the issue is not whether the treaty
shall be ratified with reservations or
without reservations. All Senators
recognize that reservations are inevi-
table; many Senators do not think res
eervatlons are necessary, but they rea-
lie that reservations cannot be avoid
ed There are forty Senators ready to
reservations: They believe that this
most powerful nation in the world is
perfectly safe in entering into the COW
enant Of the league of nations upon
exactly the same terms. with the same
obligations and under the same prom
ises that other nations do. But in
order to meet the objections of the sus-
picious, the fears of the timid and to
silence the tongues of enemies the
friends of the treaty in the Senate are
willing to subscribe to reasonable res
ervations.
"The fight for the league of nations
has not yet bsen won, but it must be
xon. Some way will be found and
must be found whereby America will
enter the league of nations. There is
10 reason why} the nations Of the pres
,nt day should devote half of their
revenue to preparing and fighting wars
any more than there is that we who {
are assembled here tonight should
spend half OF our incomes in trying
TO destroy each other.