The Cordova daily times., 1919-12-22
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1919
THE TREATY OF PEACE

Now that the United States Senate has refused to ratify the Treaty of | Peace negotiated, on the part of this country, by President Wilson, the Ad- ministration papers are filled with vi- tuperation of those Senators who have saved the Republic. But they have di- rected their abuse toward the wrong | parties. There is one, and only one, man responsible for the rejection of | Wilson, President of the United | States.
 His handling of the negotiations has been wrong from start to finish. AL though he is charged by the Constitu- tion with the duty of negotiating treat ies, yet it was never contemplated | that he should leave the United States territory to take up such duties in a foreign country. Such action is be- meath the dignity of the head of this government if there were no other reasons. The constitution contempla- ted that the President should act through representatives, appointed by him and confirmed by the Senate. This has been the practice under other ad- ministrations and even his own party papers objected most strenuously to the Presidents departure from the Constitutional and traditional policy. But MT, Wilsol would not listen to reason or advice That would not be like him. So he went abroad.
 Upon his return to this country bearing with him the first draft of the League of Nations, he was plainly told by a sufficient number of United States Senators to control the situa- tion, that the Covenant would be re- jected by the Senate in it's present form. But MT. Wilson determined to have his own way and announced that when he again returned with it. the Senate would be obliged to accept it. He made good his threat so far as in terWeaving it was concerned. AL though he had been forewarned of it's rejection, yet he assured the peace delegates of other nations that the peo- pie of the United States were back of him in his stand for the League Cove nant
 In consequence of this assurance, the Peace Conference yielded to his fhsistence that the Covenant be in- tertwined with the Treaty. In order to win on this point, however, the President was obliged to concede many points which were diametrical- Iy opposed to his famous Fourteen Points" The Shantung infamy was the most ineXcusable concession, one that he has admitted was essentially wrong. But MT. Wilson was dealing with trained and astute diplomats and was as helpless as child in their hands. Had he sent as his rep resentatives some of the diplomats whose names are household words in tllS COuHlES, lle result WOulu nave been very different and he would not have been in the humiliating posi- tion which he now occupies in the eyes of the entire civilized world / Under the Constitution, no treaty can become effective until it has been ratified by the United States Senate But MT. Wilson attempted to over- ride the Senate and dominate it's ac- tion. Other considerations aside, the Senate could not submit and retain it's self-respect But we most sincerely believe that such consideration did not govern them in the action which they took in adopting the reservations which they did. They were actuated by purely patriotic motives. We be- lieve that they had respect for their oaths of office and that their desOre was to preserve the Constitution and save this government from foreign domination.
 But for MT. Wilson's orders to his supporters the Treaty of Peace would undoubtedly have been adopted with Reservations. However, it appeared to be case of "rule or ruin" and MT. yNiJcop ic racpopcib1a for tho r,,in