The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-31
THE LEAGUE CONTROVERSY

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support of the United States to the League of Nation
in the hope of preventing war; deadlock between tn
President and the Senate is threatened Many person
try to dismiss the controversy by saying that the sens
tors opposing the President actuated by partansh
by personal hostility the President or by some othe
unworthy motive which overweighs their natural desir
to aid in making the world better. This controvers
cannot be dismissed, however, in any such manner.
The Senate shares with the President the reatymak
ing power. 1t has right to dictate to the Pres
dent what attitude he shall toward treaty pro
posa than he has dictate to the Senate The hstor
of adjusting controversy such the one now develop
ing and that is by mutual fair-mnded consideration
opposing views and by mutual surrender to the trut
when it is ascertained
Since the two branches of the treaty-making powe
equal, they have equal rights of Cancellation ant
adjustment Neither hope to impose upon the othe
by arbitrary exercise of the will Parsanship count
for nothing in this case neither party is opposed
the peace treaty the League Of Nations. The ques
ton not whether the United States shall join the league
but in what manner it shall join to what extent and ii
what it may withdraw in it should decide
to do because of the failure of the experiment
any other reason.
number of senators sufficient to prevent ratifcato
of the treaty determined that certain safeguards shall
be set up by the United States in it's relations with the
League of Nations These senators are immovabe in
their conviction because they coscientiousy believe thai
the independence of the United States is involved Or
question like that it is absurd to bring the charge OF
malice partsanshp for senators raising these questions
must the fierce gauntlet of public opinion, in which
they stake their regulations and their upon the
good faith Of their action.
President Wilson went to Paris get treaty of peace
and League of Nations In order to get them he
compelled adjust his views to the views of other strong
and strong nations He kept in mind the essentials
secondary questions that arose. He was successful in II
main, and while some of the collateral questions like
Shantung developing untoward situations no fair
minded American denies that the President accomplished
enormously difficult task He could not
have accomplished it if he had been unyeldng at every
point.
Now Mr.. Wilson discovers that his own countrymen
desire changes in the agreements he tentatively reached
with foreign governments proportion of the Senate
sufficient to defeat all his abors has decided that
the manner and extent of American membership in the
League of Nations shall be safeguarded and defined in
such way to preserve American independence beyond
any shadow of doubt question This Senate contn-
gent is not opposing the treaty 1t is not composed
wholly of men of party 1t includes many senators
who have done the state some service whose lives are
we'll known to be honorable, who have been thoroughly
ested and found to be both able and patriotic Thu
determination they have reached is necessary because
is matter of conscientious devotion to their country
nd its future security.
The same sterling common and fairness of mind
'hch President Wilson displayed at Paris will prevc
deadlock The controversy need not develop into
dangerous struggle between coordinate branches of
ne government. When President Wilson found nsuper
bic obstacles at Paris he did not permit the situation to
reate deadlock He yielded much, perhaps too much
} accomplish the great end Now with an nsuperable
osace confronting him in the Senate he called upon
prevent the situation from becoming deadlock The
feguards which proposed be accepted with great
'opriety by the President for they in line with
ational security and efficiency in both peace and war
the League of Nations should prove success, thes,
feguards will not hamper it in any way; and if the
ague should prove failure the United States will no
I've given its brthrght for mess of pottage
n
Restless folks don't care what happens just so it's some
ing different
Experience is dear teacher in that it teaches YOU