Evening journal., 1919-07-26
MI. Taft Comes TO Nh. Wilson's
Rescue---And NTH Vengeance
IFrom the Ne W York sun

tions are seldom attacked except in
case OF conspiracy like that OF
this present war, and when such
consplrcy exists all OF the mem
bers Of the League viii be anxious
10 Join in It's suppression. Article
\. IS one Of the great steps forward
provided In the League for the Sc
curing Of general peace"
Even In his letter 10 Mr. Hays, o
date as recent as Sunday last, Nh
Taft remarks OF Article X:
1T Is absolutely necessary 30 re-
tain Article Y. In order TO stabilize
the world The fluid condition OF
the region OF the war threatens
the stability Of the world, and 10
needs the united forces Of the
world to restore a normal condi-
tlon Of self-msintenance. In my
judgment. therefore. It would be
most unfortunate II the cautlonary
influence Of Article y may not be
retained In the crucial decade
through which the world is 10
pass"
In view OF these statements 70 is {
, little dlfilcult to follow the line OF rea
soning-or is 10 the line OF the pressure
Of emergency by which Mr. Taf
reaches the conclusion embodied IN tho
third Of his six suggestions, thus re-
ported In paraphrsse:
g. Functionlng Of the council un-
der Article Y shall be advisory
only, and not binding on the mem
bers. each Of whom shall be free
TO determine his own obligation.
which IN the case OF the United
States would be determined by
Congress-
That knocks out so. utterly and com
pletely Article Y. as measure Of
super-sovereignty I'm the manner orig
lnally proposed by President Wilson
that we are lost in wonder how Mr..
Taft can still regard IL as "one OF the
great steps forward provided in the
League for the securing Of general
peace" n Mr. Taft now views Article
Y. as is intimated I'm his first letter 10
Mr.. Hays. IN the light OF merely eau
tionary influence his well known sense
Of humor must have Informed him that
all The cautlonary influence surviving
IN the article Of the sort exhibited on
a Keep on the Grass sign in a public
place where the perpetual absence OF
policemen Is notorious.
There Is mystery about the publi-
cation Of these documents which at the
present time Of writing Is yet unex-
planned We had yesterday Mr.. Taft's
six suggestions only in the form Of
paraphrase or outline. although that
was the part OF the correspondence
where the exact text would naturally
be expected. At the same time we had
the exact text Of the first letter of
commentary and exposition, written
last sunday in Quebec by Mr.. Taft and
his extremely frank OBJ
servations on President Wilson's per-
sonaliiy. As TO the second letter from
Quebec, addressed 10 "Nfy dear VIII"
and intimating that Il would be unwise
TO bring the six suggestions TO the
notice OF senator Lodge or OF the SEN
ators ranged in general opposition 10
the ratification OF the treaty without
it Is scarcely conceiv-
able that Mr. Taft ever intended that
missive 10 reach the eyes OF the public.
Further evidence Of this may be found
in the fact that in this same conhden-
iial letter. written as lately as last Sun
day. Mr.. Taft suggests a future con-
ference between Mr.. Hays and Mr..
Hilles "in furtherance OF our common
object, which is that OF securing rati-
1cation OF the treaty a freeing Of the
party from the burden OF
iefeating the treaty and the removal OF
Is issues from the next political cam
oaign." He can hardly have believed
hat these intimate suggestions, penned
IN Sunday, would appear In the follow
ng Thursday mornings newspapers.
Whatever may be the explanation
" This singular incident we capnot
imagine that its effect will be anything
)ut heartening to- THE Republicans
anged in general opposition 10 the
atincation OF the league without reser-
'stions"