The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-19
WILSON SUCCEEDS
IN STOPPING TREND
OF PEACE BATTLE
Expert Shows President, by
Calling Republicans Into
Conference, Stems Rising
Tide of Opposition.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The News Selmltar ST eelaI CORE.
anondaaN

%spondent.
WASHINGTON, July 19.-President
Wilson has temporarily stemmed the
tide of opposition which was running
nlgh against the league Of nations prior
70 mis- return from France. But he mas
by no means set at rest the currents
IN the United States senate which in
sist upon reservations, however inocu-
GUS IN phraseology as the price of their
acqutescence.
republican senators known to be
friendly to h idea of the league: SEN
ators, too, without any particular per-
sonal FEELING against the president over
domestic politics. With those men he
mas discussed every phase of the Paris
negotiations. giving them the atmos-
phere and background of Paris and Yer
%sailles, the circumstances under which
y was necessary to compromise and
even Voncede in order to bring a treaty
OF peace to an impatient world.
supposedly irreconcilable opponents
IKE Senators Borah, Johnson and Lodge
are TO be called into conference later.
M Map;y wilson has chosen first to pave the
way Tor conquest Of the opposition by
heart-to-heart talk with those Re-
pubhcans who nave shown a disposition
70 LOOK at the peace question from a
Iudlclal and not a partisan attitude.
senator Knute Nelson, OF Minnesota,
although a staunch Republican, has
again and again voted with the Demo-
Gratis on the federal reserve act and
other progressive measures. Senator
hellogg, his colleague, also a Republic
can, mas openly said after a trip through
mlnhesota, that the people favored the
league: It will be remembered, too,
mat Mr.. Wilson almost carried Mime
soua IN 1915 by, his appeal to the in
Iehse peace desire Of the Middle West
ana sentiment is not believed to have
since changed substantially.
senator McCumber, who comes from
North Dakota, citadel Of the Nonparti-
san & and hotbed Of radicalism, is
4 conservative senator with an ear,
however, to the pacific sentiment of
ms constituency. He was one of the
earliest to announce that he favored the
ieague covenant, with or without
manages, but some international concert
70 execute the peace treaty and start
me process OF reconstruction. II need
ed no argument from Mr.. Wilson to
cShvert him. But 1t was. an evidence
OF changed policy on the presidents
part to show appreciation to Repubii.
ans VINO openly cooperate with him,
Senator Colt, of Rhode Island. was
formerly a federal judge. His speeches
on all public questions have been
atesnanlik and broad gauged. He
Is nnuch less OF a partisan than many
Ia ~ ~, ,io DeIhoCTdtlC or Republican
slue, This is generally believed AT the
eapltol 10 be due to his training on the
pench, MS inclination to approach aues-
tions from a judicial rather than a no.
ntlcai point OF view. While he does not
say ne viii accept the league without
reservations. his firm defense of the
pI,nclples OF the league did somewhat
them to realize that Mr.. Wilson was
slowly changing the situation which ex-
isted before his arrival from France
MS opponents are being placed on tbe
aelensive while he himself Is taking q
vigorous offensive. ~ q
senator Jones of Washington has not
Iaken the position of determined and
unqualified opposition to the league ~
natlons, which has been consistentIv
dexter. "S"' oih-
Senators Kenyon of Iowa, Gamer of
Kansas n McNary OF Oregon come
~" sections whose press has from
1rlendliness toward the league notwith-
standlng Its sponsorship by a democrat
&c president. Mr.. Capper, 1t will not
De forgotten, carried Kansas in 1916
Q n the Republican ticket by an over
that ME mWSjiGf sdy at the same time
platform of the Democratic party, Sen
Capper openly opposed the big prepar-
edness program being urged before the
United states entered the war, AND
Q MS cue from the anti-militaristif
spirit n sentiment of his state. He
mas not said what he would do finally
on the league of nations for the simple
reason that the ratifying resolution ha
not been drawn, He is open to con
vlction. Therefore, the president chose
wisely when he summoned the Kansas
senator.
What has been the effect on Capito
Hill growing out of the White House
conferencesS 1t is yet too early &c
know how many votes will be changed
but that sentiment is changing is un-
questioned.
This, however. does not apply to tho
opposition leaders who have been lead.
ing the fight, but to the men on WHOM
those same leaders have been ~countins
Tor support. 1t can 10 longer be sale
that sentiment against the treaty ant
league is rising. Rather, can it be
described as having been checked by
Mr., Wilson'S entrance into the arena,
His opponents admit that he Is a re.
sourceful fighter and that he is omit
ting no element of personal persuasion
or strategy to wear down his opposi,
ton prior to his appeal to the country
That Mr.. Wilson will be Obliged to gt
out before the American people is no
doubted. He may have won over som
OF his opponents, but the leaders of thu
orposition-men like Senators Lodge
Knox, Borah, johnson and Brandege,
will not be won by personal con.
Mr.. Wilson's words. They will bt
guided alone by manifestations of pub.
lie opinion throughout the country, es,
| pecially after President Wilson make,