Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-30
TREATY
PLAN MAY BREAK
WILSON . SILENCE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

WASHINGTON, March 29.-Sam-
uel Colcord, a modest old gentleman
with kindly eyes and benign counte
nance, who represents no organiza-
ton, no political faction or party,
no personal ambition or desire for
prominence, has presented to Presi-
dent Wilson, through Secretary
Tumulty, plan for the ending OF
the deadlock on the treaty.
Instead of an appeal from the
president to the people in an cleo
ton, Mr.. Colcord brings an appeal
from the people to the president.
He urges briefly, that there be an
adoption of the peace treaty with
all the points on which there is
agreement between the Democratic
and Republican senators, 'and that
only the disputed points be left to
the campaign or referendum.
His idea is that much of the good
of the League of Nations and treaty
can Immediately be derived by the
United States in partnership with
the rest Of the world, while the
points like Article x, on which hy
pothetical and not concrete obsta-
c1es have arisen, can be determined
later on.
Non-Partisan Petition
"They may take their referen-
dunn, if they will" writes Mr.. Col
cord, but not while the world waits
in suspense and agony for the
pledges Of aid we are willing to
give"
Signers galors, from all political
parties and all walks Of life, give
the petition presented at the White
House a non-partisan and disin-
terested appearance. Neither the
League to Enforce Peace nor the
other organizations which have
worked so zealously for treaty rati-
fication are involved in the plan. 1t
is solely the work of one man-Sam-
uel Colcord, who has used up much
of his own income and principal to
forward an idea that he thinks will
benefit this country and the world.
Mr.. Colcord has no office, no staff,
no publicity Notwithstanding at
all. He is just an average citizen
who feels so deeply about the delay
in entering the League of Nations
and putting the treaty Of peace into
effective operation that he has de-
voted all his time for many weeks
and-eis pfepaBad--tel~eontin his, eff
forts indefinitely in order to help
along a situation in which he thinks
only DISTINGUISHED men can help.
Some Names
On the petition appear the names
of President Lowell, of Harvard, and
Cardinal Gibbons. Then there is
Cleveland H. Dodge, Princeton class
mate and intimate friend of Presi
dent Wilson. Also George w. Wick
ersham, former attorney general in
the Taft cabinet; Augustus Thomas,
playwright; Hamilton Holt, editor OF
the Independent, who have been
particularly friendly to President
Wilson's point of view on the League
of Nations, as we'll as Major George
Haven Putnam. Jacob H. Schiff, Ed
mund D. Wight and others who have
not been prominent in politics. but in
civic affairs, have Joined in the me-
mortal
Accompanying Mr.. Colcord to the
White House we're Hamilton Holt
and Professor Woodbridge, of Bos-
ton.
Of course anybody who has dared
to mention the word compromise"
at the White House has had to tread
softly and speak in whispers for
the president has brooked no such
suggestions. Indeed, it has been
said that he would not receive GER
tain Democratic senator's hitherto on
the friendliest terms with him, be-
cause he learned in advance that
81 ten
Mr. Wilson didn't see Mr.. \Colcord
or his committee. But the memorial
they presented will, of course, be
laid before the president by his .prf-
vate secretary. Every day it is plan
ned to add more names so that even
tually thousands of persons whose
names command public respect will
be enlisted in the movement.
May Make Wilson Speak
Mr.. Colcord admits he is a Repub-
lican but claims he is no partisan.
He is the kind of man who believes
much can be accomplished in the
treaty situation If the individuals in
terested turned their thoughts from
personal hatreds to broad principles
of human compassion. He plans to
carry his appeal to the senate, too
He already has interviewed several
senators who favor the compromise
plan and it is probable that there
| will be speeches on it this week.
| The president has not seen fit to
| reply to the senate resolution re-
turning the treaty to him. Some-
| times he welcomes occasions to speak
| indirectly and by implication.