Evening star., 1920-03-29
COMPROMISED PLEA
FOR TREATY MADE
TO THE PRESIDENT.
Names of Prominence Borne
by Petition for Action on
Undisputed Points.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Samuel Colcord, a modest man. with
kindly eyes and benign countenance,
who represents no organization, no
political faction or party, no personal
ambition or desire for prominence,
through Secretary Tumulty, a plan
for the ending of the deadlock on the
treaty.
Instead of an appeal from the Pres
ident to the people in an election,
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 agree
ment between the democratic and re-
publican senators, and that only the
disputed points be left to the cam
paign or a 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 hypothetical
arisen. can be determined later on.
They may take their referendum.
if they WILL" writes Mr. Colcord, but
not while the world waits in suspense
and agony for the pledges of aid we
are willing to give"
Sixners of All Sorts.
Signers galore, from all political
parties and all walks OF life, give
the petition presented at the White
House a non-partisan and disinterest-
ed appearance. Neither the League
to Enforce Peace nor the other or
ganizations which have worked so
zealously for treaty ratificatio mare
involved in the plan. 1t is solely
the work of one man-Samuel Col
cord-who has used 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 organization-nothin at
all. He is just an average citizen,
who feels so deeply about the delay
in entering the league of nations and
fective operation that he has de-
voted all his time for many weeks
and is prepared to continue his eff
forts Indefinitely in order to help
along a situation in which he thinks
only disinterested men can help.
On the petition appear the names of
President Lowell of Harvard and Cardi-
nal Gibbons. Then there Is Cleveland
H. Dodge. Princeton classmate and in
innate friend of President Wilson.
George w. Wickersham. former Attorney
General in the Taft cabinet; Augustus
Thomas, playwright: Hamilton Holt, edi-
tor Of the Independent, who have been
particularly friendly to President VIII
sons point of view on the league of
nations, as well as Maj. George Haven
Putnam. Jacob H. Schifr. Edmund
Dwight and others who have not been
prominent in politics. but in civic af-
fairs have Joined in the memorial
Accompanying Mr.. Colcord to the
White House were Hamilton Holt and
Prof. Woodbridge of Boston. OF
course. anybody who has dared to men
ton the word COMPROMISE at the
White House has had to tread softly
and speak in whispers, for the Presi-
dent has brooked no such suggestions.
Did Not Meet President.
Mr.. Wilson did not see Mr.. Colcord
or his committee. But the memorial
they presented will. of course. be laid
before the President by his private
add more names. so that eventually
thousands of persons whose names
command public respect will be en-
listed in the movement.
Mr.. Colcord admits he is a repub-
1ican. 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
u houidh compassion. ne pans 10
carry his appeal to the Senate. too
He has already interviewed several SEN
ators who favor the compromise plan
and 1t is probable that there will be
speeches on 1T this week.
The President has not seen f1t to
reply to the Senate resolution return
ing the treaty to him. Sometimes he
welcomes occasions to speak Indirect
ly and by implication. The visit OF
Mr.. Colcord and his committee may
furnish that opportunity. Some pro-
nouncement from the White House
has been expected for several days.
but it has been deferred to see what
Congress would do about the joint
resolution proposing a declaration of
peace.
1t is still a game-each side watch
Ing the other and each side confident
that the public supports such tactics.
Mr.. Colcord's efforts ere the begin
ming Of what may yet prove a nation
wide movement to tell both sides in
the treaty hight that the country still
wants action, not delay. and q def
milton OF American foreign policy.
Copyright. 1900