The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-17
League Discussion Party
Falls Flat; Few Calls OH
Other Business.
RALLYING TRICKS VAIN
Ardent Wilson Supporters
Complain Fiasco Makes
Cause Ridiculous.
"LET WOODROW DO 1T"
Democratic Attitude Thus
Summed Up-Republicans
Sick Of Generalities.
RALLYING TRICKS VAIN
"LET WOODROW DO ITn
By Stor Correspondent Of The suS.

By a Stor Correspondent Of THE SuS.
WASHINGTON, July 16.-There are, az
everybody knows, ninety-six Senator's
Of these still United States who could
have gone trippingly to the White
House this morning to hear Mr.. Wil>
son talk about the League of Nations
or the Heart of the World or just
where Shantung fits in the fourteen
points, but ninety-three didn't. Just
three members Of the ratifying body
all Democrats-took advantage of the
Presidents open house" invitation
and every one of these FASTENED to
state later in the day that he had
called to consult Mr.. Wilson on mat
ters quite foreign to the covenant Of
Versailles.
They say that the President walked
back from the executive office with a
pretty tight mouth when Big Pat Me-
kenna could find only three Senator's
out of the whole flock Of ninety-six to
usher into the presence, and it is cer-
tain that some Of Mr., Wilson's most
ardent supporters are going around
tonight complaining that the fiasco
tends to make their cause ridiculous.
and they fear ridicule more than any
thing else in the world. The Repub-
licans and few Democrats who have
no more use for some features of the
league than they have for the devil
are smiling grimly. It's q queer situ.
alton.
Failure FIattest Ever.
The fact is there never was fatter
failure than Mr.. Wilson's effort to
whistle up to the White House Sem
ators he had fiaunted and fouted for
two or three years, and this means
Democrats as we'll as Republicans. It
carried with it an extra twinge OF
chagrin because the open house" re-.
ception set for this morning by tho
President had been extensively ad-
Vertised. No pains had been spared to
let both Republicans and Democrats
know that Mr.. Wilson eagerly ex-
pected them TO call and gather around
While he eXpounded humanity's expec-
tation of America Various little de.
vices and expedients familiar to WASH
ington had been employed to rally a
crowd and TO beat up interest. And
then when the morning came, Pouf!
Out went the reception like a candle
and Mr.. Wilson was left all, all alone
to discourse with the faithful Tumulty.
What was the matter? After all. the
explanation Is pretty simple. Take
first the Democratic attitude. As a
matter OF truth few of them of any
consequence in the Senate know what
the League OF Nations is about. how
to ask intelligent questions about 1t.
how to discuss 1t at all. They say the
President can do all the talking that's
necessary and that when he SAYS
Sign here, boys" they'll sign. Also
they have got completely out Of the
habit OF going to the White House and
would feel as uncomfortable there as a.
tramp in drawing room. With them
it's entirely "a case OF Let Woodrow
do It,"
The attitude OF the Republicans Is
distinctly more definite. They are tired
Of being ''bunked." They are weary OF
hearing beautifully phrased generals
ties when they want hard facts. They
don't care to go through such another
experience as they had late last Feb
ruary after the Presidents League OF
Nations dinner party" when their ef-
forts to give the public some notion OF
what the President actually knew or
thought about the league were met by
loud shouts OF liar" both from Trim-
ulty and Senator Hitchcock (Nebl,
the Presidents representative at that
time upon the floor OF the Senate.
They are much moro interested in
finding out how the United States is
going to fare in and by the League OF
Nations than how the fluttering heart
OF the world Ia going to be soothed.
And that Is Just what they cannot get
out OF Mr.. Wilson they maintain
especially when there is no stenog-
rapher present.
Ninety-three Otherwise Engaged.
For these reasons ninety-three Sem
ators had other engagements this
morning at the League OF Nations re-
ception hour-only Senators Chamber
lain (Oregon), Swanson CVirginia), the
new spokesman for the President, vice
Senator Hitchcock. just disappearing
through the skylight, and Gerry
(Rhode lsland). called in the "opeu
house" period. Possibly Senator Cham
berlain's call means reconciliation
between him and the President. for to-
day was the first time he had been in
side the White House since before the
date he called attention to the ma
iestic inoompetsncies of the War De-.