Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1920-02-21
Daily
Editorial
Digest
(Title Appld for U. S. Pat Off
Edited by the Washington
Feature Service
DAVID LAWRENCE, Priest.
THAT TROUBLESOME
RTlCI & X

J Article X of the Treaty OF Versail-
les is indeed the unknown quantity"
IN the problem of world peace which
the statesmen of all nations are try
ing to solve, and until the United
States Senate can reach an agree
ment with the President on just what
this article means and shall mean,
peace and a return to normal life
seem to most observers impossible.
!, Reservations" interpreting this ar
tiele and specifying what obligations
the United States assume under it,
are proposed on all sides. 1t remains
TO find an acceptable compromise
reservation. The majority of the
country.s press seems TO believe that
such a compromise will be reached
and that the ratification of the trea-
ty will fofsow
Some Democratic papers see in the
reservation proposed by Senator
Lodge, the Republican leader. a sub
stantial notification of the League of
Nations idea. Though Mr.. Lodge and
his supporters speak of American
izing the treaty" the Louisville Cour-
ier-Journal holds that their interpre-
tstion would Amerieanize it because
it would GeHy the American people
the right to make any promise for
their future conduct which they
would he able to keep without the
express permission of some future
Congress" and the Dayton News, ed
tied by Governor Cox of Ohio, de-
clares that they want Article Y ann
nended because they seek to hirk re
sponsibility which civilization has de
manded of all nations" The Chatta-
nooga News thinks the language of
the Lodge reservation is not fOrtu-
nate" because ambiguous, vet II Of
fers basis for discussion which, we
believe, viii lead to ratification
Those classifying themselves as
independent Democratic" take, for
the most part. a similar view. The
philadelphia Record is convinced that
the Lodge idea LEAVES absolutely
nothing of the agreement" and the
New York Times fears il would
make ii practically impossible for
the United States TO conduct itself
like high-souled nation and friend
of peace The Knoxville Sentinel
feels also that, in the current phrase,
it would 'cut the heart Of the trea-
ty," and adds:
TO repudiate any moral obligation
under Article Y to cooperate with
other nations 10 prevent wars should
be to dest ny the chief incentive of
the United states for entering the
League. for the other nations would
equally not be bound by the terms of
this article and the whole scheme OF
the League 10 keep down wars would
fall TO pieces.
Yet not all the independent Demo.
cratic" press goes so far as this. Tho
Binghamton Morning sun says the
various reservations "can scarcely he
distinguished save by those who arc
trying 10 split hairs, and the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram thinks the diff
ference is almost that of tweedlerUm
and tweedledee." The Boston Post
lpds the Lodge reservations more
certifying In their rhetoric than in
heir substance" while the Cleveland
Rain Dealer thinks the country
will accept ratification now upon
me compromise terms proposed"
What about Republican opinion
he New York Tribune places the
anne for failure to reach an agree
3fnt sqGarely on Senator Hitchcock
he solitary Hitchcock il calls
an, for Whue other leaders have
opposed reservations, he refuses &c
aate. " When asked to say what
e wants be shakes his head. Wher
asOueht 10 choose from among this
19ds offered he shakes his head az