Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-21
Country Sacrificed on Political Altar

Country Sacrificed on Political Altar
D 9TH the Lodge resolution OF ratHcat ion.
- with its fifteen reservations, and the
resolution offered by the Democrats to raUfy
the treaty unreserredly. were decisirely de-
featcd in the Senate. and the treaty is now
| dead. in so far as participation in it by the
United States is concerned, unless the Presi-
dent should see proper 10 revive it by with
drawing the document and resubmitting it
at The forthcoming regular session.
AS The Times-Dispatch had feared and
indicated in recent comments on the situa-
iion the Democrats were outmaneuvercd in
the parliamentary proceedings leading up to
the vote, and on the final test found them
selves placed in a position where they either
had to vote for resolution which so re-
stricted the treaty in it's operation as virtu-
ally to destroy its original vitality, or else
assume responsibility for its defeat They
deliberately chose to walk into tho trap
shrewdy arranged for them in order to
secure the opportunity for Il test vote on
resolution 10 ratity without reservations and
IN the further hope Of obtaining Republican
support Tor compromise resolution The
result turned out as might have been cX-
pected. On unreservcd ratification only one
Republican voted with them, and on the at
tempt to secure vote a compromise
resolution. point Of order was raised against
It, which being ovcrruled by the chair an
appeal was taken and the ruling was over
turned. only one Republican voting to sus-
tain. while three Democrats Joined the Re
pubiicanS against sustaining. BE assured
The Republicans not a Bit chagrined at
the defeat of the Lodge resolution 1t has
accomplished its purpose Of placing the Re
puDlican majority on record AS favoring the
treaty. and in the game of politics forces the
Democratic party on the defensive to justify
the action OF its representatives in cncom-
passing the defeat OF the treaty.
AS previously indicated. the treaty is now
done for unless the President resubmits it,
and then all the wasted effort OF tho nost
session Will have to be gone through with
again, with opponents OF unreServed ratifca-
ton in full command of the situation and on
joying the added advantage of having demon
strated their ability to write into it such
reservations as they see fit from partisan
cSpcdiency otherwise. and again force
IKE situation as to acceptance or rejection on
another showdown. should the Democrats
continue obstinate in their refusal to accent
Such reservations as the Republicans deem
necessary to safeguard American rights and
interests-the keynote Of their appeal in
justification of their action
Had the Democrats at the proper time been
less unvlelding in their attitude of resist
ance to reservations which would not have
materially weakened the treaty. the result
might nave been gratifyingly different as
suihcient number OF Republicans would have
joined them in agreeing to a ratifying reso-
luton that would have saved the germ of
workable treaty and league covenant sus
ccptinie or future Improvement on n basic
ionnoation inherently vital with possibilities
but they were lacking in capable leadership
and lost that opportunity when it was oppor
tune When they reached the pont where
they were willing to make concessions. the
tepubhcans had united upon plan from
which they were not 10 be budged
Shouid the treaty be rcsubmitted II is
inevitable that compromise of some kind
VIII he discussed. but it is practically certain
.n"' no compromise will be effected which
weakens the position already taken in IN
senate. The treaty will never he ratified
without explicit and sweeping reservations
republican leadership has achieved the mr.
pose it set out to accomplish.