Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1919-11-09
The Humiliation Of the President

The Humiliation Of the President
The humiliation to which the president is being
subjected by the something to be regretted
but is unavoidable No president of the United States
before so repudiated before the world But
the president has brought upon himself His studied
neglect of the senate when he sailed away to Europe
for the first time provocation of hostility A
conference with the who would finally pass upon
his act negotiater would only have inspired
friendiness but would have guided the president
amid the Paris deliberations.
1t is true that the senate is not charged with the
Negotiation of treaties. The nations business that
respect is usually conducted through the state de-
partment. But the senate is charged with the fna!
review of all treaties and is at last whether
they shall become effective to this nation
This treaty, including the covenant of the league
of nations of such unusual Importance in
volving change relation the whole world to
some extent changing domestic conditions that the
president should have advised himself senatorial
opinion regarding the changes contemplated.
But the president proceeded at Paris as dictator
supreme and sole authority, free from the re-
strictions of coordinate branch of the government
He led his associates at the round table to believe
that though the constitution recognized him only as
a negotiator. the people of America were behind him
and approved all he might do though he had not TAX
en- the pains to inform the people what he might do
We he led his associates to believe all this;
We do not think though, that such astute associates
Lloyd George and Clemenceau did believe it. They
probably of the limitations of the presi-
dent which he himself did not perceive.
Mr.. Wilson should have taken warning at that
time from the discussions in the senate, based wholly
press reports of what he was doing. With con-
tinued, studied neglect he had refused inform his
country of his intentions. Even the department
professed profound ignorance OF the proceedings at
Versailles. There was other country represented
there left in the dark America. The British pre-
mier one occasion more or less imperiously
summoned home not only to explain what was hap
pening but to receive instructions. But Mr.. Wilson,
"in his own proper person and by his own authority
committing his blinded country any agreement
he might choose to make In his spirit of lofty.
cloudy atruism he profgately throwing away
American rights
We never believed that the treaty as it was pre-
scented to the senate would be ratified While
had little expectation that the senate would proceed
to the unusual step of amending it, we felt sure that
this country would be so guarded by reservations that
all the president had provided for at Paris
would be avoided Failing sufficient reservations,
position to the administration.
But it is about TO be the other way around. The
treaty will be surrounded by sufficiently strong Amer
lean reservations and then rejected will be rejected
by the order of the president and issue will be
already defined for the presidential campaign next
year.
1t is strange that the obsession of the president
should be maintained; that he still believe that he
holds the confidence of the people. His tour Of the
west and the middle west in September could have
hardly failed somewhat to enghten him. There was
when he set out. As the president Of the United
States he was welcomed with proper warmth; as
woodrow Wilson he had ceased to conjure Every
where he went his message received with in
creasng chilliness He returned to Washington
disappointed
We do not believe, this far in advance, that the
national democratic leaders will allow the peace
treaty to be saddled upon the party an issue next
year The party is already carrying too much weight
Some of the administration senator's no doubt
regard the issue as dangerous When the peo-
dent had undertaken. there were distinct signs OF
webbing among advocates of ratification without
amendment or reservation, but generally they have
Welded to the administration lash. They will hardly
though permit the president to put this handicap
upon them in a political campaign.