New-York tribune., 1919-09-22
Speeches in Is States
Are Declared to Have
Cost Covenant Support
and President Prestige
Senate Foes
Are Undaunted
Third Term Candidacy Is
Regarded as Assured,
but Weakened by Trip
By Carter Field
Ne1c Yorh Tribune

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21.-Thirteen
states have been visited by President
Wilson so far on his tour of the coun-
try in behalf of the peace treaty and
league of nations, and practically
threefourths of his time has been ex-
pended, so a fair judgment Of the eff
feet of his trip may be had by study
ing the results. The almost unanimous
opinion here is that Mr.. Wilson has
steadily lost ground.
There are two effects, one openly
desired. the ratification Of the peace
treaty without reservations or amend
ments, and the other, important no
matter whether it interests Mr.. Will
son or not. the effect on the Presi-
Dental campaign next year. The
President has convinced the politicians
Of both parties here that he intends
to run for the Presidency again next
year. 1t is conceded, of course, that
he can have the Democratic nonina-
tion if he wants it--5arring a politi-
cal miracle.
Wilson Weaker Than League
Most Of the confidential reports re-
ceived here by politicians about the
effect of the Presidents trip assert
that the President himself is consider
ably weaker than the league. News
writer's with the President have writ
ten the opinion that he would
strengthen the treaty fight by an
nouncing that he would not be a candi-
date.
In the treaty situation President
Wilson has visited most of the states
in which he could hope to accomplish
anything by changing votes of the
Senator'S representing those states. On
leaving California he will speak in
Nevada, both of whose Senators are
for him anyhow. He will then visit
Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, Okla
homa and Tennessee.
He will spend the last two days of
his trip in Kentucky, where both SEN
ators are for the league without reser-
vations, but which has just elected a
Republican member of the House in a
district which had not gone Rcpub-
lican before in a generation. The state
has been drifting Repubicanward for
some time.
Trip Virtually Ended
SO that SO far as it's effect on the
treaty fight is concerned the Presi-
dents trip is almost concluded. There
are a few reservationists in the states
he will visit, but they are men par
ticularly noted for making up their
minds and sticking to it, relying on
the future to Justify them rather than
attempting to follow public opinion in
their states at the moment. This in
cludes such Senators as Thomas, of
Colorado; Gore, Of Oklahoma, and
Shields, Of Tennessee.
A careful canvass of the Senator'S
whose states the President has visited
by the President. Not single mild
reservationist has been won over
against reservation; not a single
strong reservationist has been turned
into q mild reservationist; and not a
single advocate of amendments or q
irreconcilable has been weakened, so
the President has not won anything
for his treaty in the Senate by his
trip SO far.
On the other hand, he seems to have
lost some strength. Immediately fol-
lowing his speech in St. Louis Senator
Spencer, of Missouri, who had been a
mild reservationist, made speech
boldly transferring himself to the
class of strong reservationists. He is
virtually now for the committee reser-
vations, and there are strong hopes
that he will vote at least for the
amendment giving the United States an
equal vote in the league assembly with
the British Empire.
Kenyon's Speech Noticed
In Iowa the Presidents visit was fol-
lowed by a speech by Senator Kenyon
far stronger than anything which the
leaders had hoped for from him. His
defiance of the President to attack the
merits of the British Empire amend
ment was particularly pleasing to nd-
vocates Of that amendment, as Mr..
Kenyon had been classed as a mild
reservationist.
His colleague, Senator Cummins, who
had been meeting in conferences with
the mild reservationists, openly con-
graduated him on his speech. Since the
Presidents visit in North Dakota, Min
nesota and Oregon, Senators Kellogg
and Nelson, of Minnesota: McCumber,
of North Dakota. and McNary, of Ore
Lodge, and it is now admitted that they
have advanced almost to the point of
accepting the strong committee reser-
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