The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1919-12-22
THE COUNTRY'S HOLIDAY TASK.


MYTH the peace treaty still unratifed, the Senate
w has adjourned for the holidays leaving two
proposals hanging in the air.
The Underwood resolution calling upon the PreSi-
dent 10 appoint committee Of ten Senators Who shall
consider and report what kind Of treaty agreement can
command two-thirdS vote of the Senate at the earliest
possible moment was promptly kicked into an uncer-
tain future by Senator Lodge.
Remains the amended Knox resolution, ayorably re-
ported from The Foreign Relations Committee, which
j, nothing more or less Than proposal that the United
States while refusing to saddle itself with obligations
incurred by membership in the League OF Nations shall
yrLAt peace with Germany on the terms which The
treaty negotiated at Paris conveniently provides.
The Knox proposal appeals to Republican leaders be-
cause il cuts The League vi Nations out OF the treaty
and thus does substantial damage to the programme
The President has urged We DO not believe it will APP
peal with the same strength to the great majority even
Of those Americans who count themselves faithful
members of the Republican Party.
When the New York Chamber of Commcrce-uuln-
herring on its board such prominent New York Repub-
cans sSDarwin =. Kingsley, Thomas w. Lamont, Paul
NJ Warhrg and Otto T. Bannard--unanimouSy
adopted recent resolution demanding speedy end
TO conditions under which the legitimate commerce
thai Victory assured us is slipping away" it did not call
for compromise which shall keep The United States out
Of the League Of NATIONS. On the contrary, the New
York Chamber " Commerce resolution expressly de-
rLIrrd:
~ peace in witch wrap Uui SELL rs tunes
Of isolation md scltinterest would be III dis
honorable as further delay would have been in
our decision TO enter the war April 6. 1917"
Similar resolutions since passed by the Cleveland
Chamber Of Commerce and by the Merchants and
ManuflciurcrS' Association Of Baltimore conlain nj
demands for "Le2gueleSS'' trrly
Republican leadership in the Senate has let its hos
tty toward what it regards as the Presidents pet plan
blind TO the fact that Republican business interests all
over the country are not prepared to sacrifice the COM
mcrcia advantages of better and closer international re-
laons merely because to reject those advantages Iooks
like way TO diScredit the President.
When Republican leaders and The leading epresen-
aliyes of business and trade find themselves at Cross
purposes the outlook for Inc Republican Party is bad
indeed.
On the other hand, no good can he accomplished BY
statements like that attributed to Bernard N. Baruch
which represents the President as determined to vel
not the fraction of an inch.
Politics apart the country believes the fair line oil
compromise lies much closer to President Wilson thar
it lies to Senator Lodge. 1t is for M latter to take I've
long step back from an extreme to which he wilfully
jumped. But The President cannot afoEd 10 hold him
self mmobe merely to make 1t ha er for Republican
pride Too much depends on the ultimate and i'm
measurably larger ISSUE
The President can agree to and the Senate can ratifl
peace treaty which shall include the covenant Of tn
Leage of Nations and at the same time meet objection
by carrying Interpretive conditions Of kind that ohe
sgratory powers may be reasonably expected to accept
It is for the Senate TO stop scoring solely by part,
points and study howNhe thing may be soonest done
1t is for the country to clarity and accelerate Senl
loria brain action by putting individual Senators it
closer touch, before JAM s. with The will of those the
represent
Chambers Of Commerce, merchants associations
,vc societies. churches organizations and individual
IN every American community should Join in the dt
n,ani for agreement ratification and peace
IL. 49, L. -I.I. l.,-N