Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-05-22
THE EVENING SESSION

John II. Walker, labor leader. was
The first speaker of the evening meet
Ing at The Strong, while Mr. Taft
opened the meeting at the City Hall.
Mr.. Walker spoke for more than an
hour, emphasizing the benefit which the
new era to be brought in by the
League of Nations will be to the work
ingmen all over the world.
EX-PREsIDENT TAFIrs SPEECH
We are beginning in this Green Noun
tain State series of conventions in
u States, to which we have summoned
delegates to discuss the present state of
the covenant for the League of Nations
and to urge the people of those States
that they manifest their approval of the
ratification of the treaty containing the
covenant. The IA powers which have
agreed upon this treaty have presented
it to the German representatives, for
their signature. They are required to
sign it Tomorrow, or take the conse-
quences of the ending of the armisticc
and the resumption of hostil!ties against
their country.
The covenant of the league as en-
bodied in the treaty. and the various
for their execution upon the machinery
provided by the covenant II, and when,
the Germans sign the treaty, the Presi-
dent Will bring it back home and sub
nit it to the Senate as single docu-
ment. The constitutional function of the
Genate is to consider the treaty and to
ratify it or reject it. 1t may ratify it
conditionally, stating the conditions upon
which it does ratify il. These conditions
are called amendments to the treaty.
The ratification, however, can only be-
come absolute and effective upon the
acceptance by other countries of tho
amendments contained in these condi-
tons. Treaties have been ratified with
reservations as to construction which,
not objected to by other countries have
created binding treaty; but such reser-
vations cannot be substantial amend
ment of the treaty, eliminating any
article or changing its evident mean
ing, without requiring, in order to make
binding treaty, that the other countries
signing the treaty shall consent formally
TO the amendments, 1t therefore follows
that If any substantial amendment is 10
be made TO the treaty submitted by the
President, 1t must go back to the other
powers who signed ii for their accent
ance and approval This includes not
only the IA allied powers which form.
ulated the treaty, but it includes Ger.
many also. Upon those who insist tina,
substantial amendments must be made
to the treaty will therefore fall ths
responsibility for the Indefinite post.
ponement of peace which the uncondi.
tional ratification of the treaty will al
once bring about 1t has been proposed
10 separate the covenant from the treat,
and to rat'fy the treaty, thus truncatct
or dissected, with the idea that peac,
will follow ouch action by the Senate
The suggestion has been made tina
peace thus might be reached through
protocol cmbody!ng the treaty and leav
i"G the question Of the league to fur
ttcr Consid ration. II should he promised
t'nt no one can initiate peace except tn,
President of the Untcd States, who Il
stcd by the Constitution with thi
rover 40 enc can make a protocol o
irt'o tvcop, the President IT, there
i,to. .Ao ne dent deems It esscnt,a
.t' orc should act upon tn,
'. w. st' .aia i. lA,ro can be ~,
49, 4r. as. - mllntalrs tha
.rr .'dt = ,ot.1 tao protooo
, 1W tao oon'-rt of ;h
% e, ia .s.oHe s...H- ,h- treaty, aaC