The sun., 1919-10-18
The Bearing OF the Votes on the
Proposed Amend ments.

Proposed Amendments.
The vote on the shantung amend.
n1ent brings cold comfort to those who
have been demanding that which Pres
ident WILSON has persistently de-
manded, namely, the unqualified ac-
ceptance Of the interviewer treaty and
covenant he negotiated and brought
back from Paris.
There Is Senator CoLT Of Rhode ISL
and. for example, a Republican Of con-
servative habit and a jurist of wide
experience and just discrimination
He has voted against the Shantung
amendment. Last Wednesday. in an
nouncing his intention so to vote, he
declared his preference for dealing
with this matter by reservation so
drawn as to accomplish the same pur-
pose without defeating the treaty.
Judge CoLT's position is as clear as
daylight.
There is Senator SHIELDS of Ten
nessee. likewise distinguished jurist
for many years on the bench of the
Supreme Court of his State, and af.
terward its Chief Justice. Senator
SHIELDS is a Democrat. He voted
against the Shantung amendment. He
explained his vote in a manner that
leaves no doubt of his determination
to safeguard American independence
of League control. Senator SHIELDS
pointed out that the adoption Of the
Shantung amendment would be, in ef-
feet, the notification Of the proposed
reservation concerning Article Y. of
the covenant, to which he pledged his
hearty support, and which constitutes
from the Presidents repeatedly de-
clared point of view the key to his
whole scheme of internationalism. ~
shall oppose" said Judge SHIELDS, "all
provisions of the proposed League of
Nations and the treaty which violate
or tend to abandon the policy of the
United States, proclaimed by WASH
INGToN and reiterated in messages
and other documents by JEFFERSON,
MADISON, MONROE, JACKSON, CLEvE-
LAND, and by President WILSON In
public addresses as late as 1914, 1915
and 1916, that this country should not
form any entangling alliances or In
volve itself in the jealousies, strifes,
political intrigues and resultant wars
of foreign countries, and support such
amendments and reservations as may
be necessary to preserve unimpaired
that policy" Here Americanlsm
speaks. We cannot see that this able
Democratic Senator has left room for
the slightest misunderstanding Of his
position or intentions.
4 Turning to the pronouncements Of
some of the other Senators who voted
against this particular method of
amendment in the Shantung case. and
who may vote In a similar spirit on
the johnson amendment, we find the
same resolute attitude concerning the
main question
Senator HALE Of Maine who cannot
be suspected of sympathy with the
Presidents scheme, voted against the
Shantung amendment. "The treaty
should be amended" he said on Thurs
day, ''but / believe through reserya-
lions rather than amendments. As to
Shantung, do not approve the treaty
provisions but shall be satisfied with
reservations that shall make clear
that we are not party to the wrong
full transfer of Shantung." As to the
johnson amendment the Maine Sena-
tor continued. II am certain a reser.
walton on the subject 1.-THE greater rep
resentation of Britain In the League
of Nations] can be made equally
strong If not stronger than the amend
ment. Unless 1t is adopted shall
vote against the ratification of the
treaty"
In the same way most II not all OF
the Republicans and some Of the Dem
ocrats who voted against the Shan
tung amendment. and who may vote
against the Johnson amendment, have
expressed clearly their reasons for ac-
fion. 1t is not because they wish to
preserve intact and unmodified the
fnterwoven covenant and treaty, as
ar. WILSON and the thick and thin
supporters of his policy have de-
manded. 1t is to their minds solely
a question of the most effective and
feasible method Of protecting Ameri.
can interests. One Of them after an
ether has declared, like Senator
sMoor Of Utah and Senator LrsRoor
OF wisconsin, that unless effective