Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-16
PATCHED-UP PACT
CONFR0NTS A VETO
Presidents Refusal to Sign
Amended Treaty Would
NuIIify Senate Action
BOLD MOVE is POSSIBLE
BY CLINTON W. GILBERT
stan Correspondent Of the Evening rnbIi
Ledger

STAN Correspondent Of the ETenlng ihoho
Ledger
Washington. Sept. 1G. - Will the
President refuse to certify the German
treaty In case the Senate attaches to
it reservations which are offensive to
him in their language, or in case he
adhcres to his position that no reser
vation shall go into the resolution OF
ratification?
Now that the Republicans are draw
ing together. Mr.. Lodge modifying his
reservations to suit the views of MCssrs.
McCumhcr. Nelson and MCNary and
these three senator's yielding somewha'
Of their position to the chairman OF
the Senate foreign relations committee.
the organization Republicans are be-
ginning to study the power that is in
the minority's hands and especially in
tho Presidents hands.
Will the treaty. as patched up he
tween Senators Lodge. McCumhCr.
Nelson. suppoSing they can agree upon
patching it up. be defeated and the Sen
ate set to doing the work over again?
Tho prorclurc is this: The Sen
ate will consider the treaty in com
mittco Of the whole. In this committee
reservations and amendments will bc
voted upon. \ bare aiOrity vote is
sufficient in committee of the whole TO
attach amendments or reservations upon
the treaty. When the committee of the
whole rcpors the treaty to the Senate
it will require two thirds vote to
ratify. But if the administration docs
not like the reservations agreed upon
= Ia, ,f in,t inu fbn
ing delay and forcing n new vote will
fall upon it.
That is the tactical advantage the
Republicans have as n majority under
tho Senate rules for the consideration
of treaties.
Could Beat Amended Treaty
The administration may beat the
treaty with reservations as agreed to
by the Republicans. if the Republicans.
as now seems likely agre to rcscr-
vntons. in two ways-by voting against
it's ratification or through the Prcsi
dents refusal to certify the treaty rs
ratified.
It is very real power which the
administration has. Will it dare use
it?
The Republicans have cauvaSscd the
situation of late. They are generally
agreed that when the treaty comes out
uf the committee of the whole. with
reservations. even if those reservations
are disagreeable to the Democrats, tn,
/ Democrats generally will vote TO accept
( the treaty. But now they are asking
| themselves. Will the President enter
into the situation with his power to re.
| fuse to certify the treaty:
I 1t is said Presidents have in the pas
used this power in fights with the Sen
ate. and the firmness with which Mr.
! Wilson adheres to his opposition t.
reservations in the resolution of rati
tication is causing speculation. 1t wa
unexpected. 1t may mean. as Wash
| ington phrases it. that he still ''ha
something up his sleeve"
Senators recall that when the Pres
ident first talked to them about tn
treaty he used words by which the
now think he meant to call attention t
his power to refuse to certify. AM
Senator Hitchcock in a recent speec
also called attention to that power.
It Seems likely that if the PrcSiden
uses this power. he will do so by send
ing n message to the Senate. or person
ally addressing it between the tim
of the vote in committee of the whol
and the final vote on the treaty tcllin
the Senate that he will refuse to Ger
tify the treaty as it comes out of com
mittee on the whole.
If he does so it will be on the groun
TINT the reservations adopted will be i
effect amendments, aud that re rati
firation of the treaty in the form pro
posed would cause more delay and con
fusion than It's further consideration
by the the Senate.
For him to take this step would /
bold move. 1t would unquestionabl
throw the whole situation with res
pect to the treaty into confusion, )
many weak and wavering men mal
up the majority which Mr.. Lodge
working day and night to weld togeth'
and so slight is the discipline in the Re
publican party.