New-York tribune., 1920-01-16

more successful fight before the. people
for authority to restore, than 1t can for
authority to retain, if it must share re-
sponsibility with the Republicans for
fourteen months delay.
1.-THE world is in chaotic condition.
Yesterdays papers recorded mob of
10000 people before the Reichstag in
Berlin. We have proclaimed the bene-
fits of q democracy in which the people
rule, and in 8 number of countries the
people have accepted our invitation or
ments like ours.
eve are not strengthening those
governments when we allow less demo-
cratic governments to ratify and con-
clude peace and establish q league Of
nations while we. spend months wran-
Cling over the wording Of reserva-
tions. The people trying to follow our
example find it difficult to defend our
government if we, who insist that the
majority have right to rule, are not
willing to uphold our own doctrine in
our own country as applied to our own
legislative bodies.
II believe We can put the Repub-
lican party on the defensive before the
country by proposing, first, an imme-
diate compromise, if compromise is
possible, and second, Dy throwing the
responsibility on the Republicans for
immediate action in case compromise
is impossible. We could appeal then
| for reinstatement Of any essential
provisions-that is, that the Democratic
party considers essential-which the
Republicans cut out.
"There is one story which would ap-
peal to the sense Of justice in the
American heart, which, after all, is the
only hope Of popular government. 1t
is an illustration Of the Senate's posi-
tion. Two women, claiming to be the
mother Of child, appeared before q
judge who could not decide from the
posed that the child be divided, each
claimant being given half. The false
claimant was willing, but the mother
was not.
$50 I think we would gain, rather
than lose, by th1 lowing upon the Re-
publicans the responsibility for writing
in provisions if compromise proves
impossible. The Republican party
would 60 before the country with the
responsibility of six months unneces-
sary delay. because the reservations
could have been agreed on first as well
as last. If it did not present a settle
ment Immediately, it would be in the
light Of willingness to continue Tor
fourteen months more the delay, not
withstanding it menaced the peace Of
the world and prevented considera-
tion of domestic questions.
"The Democratic party, on the other
hand, would show that it was willing
to let the Republican majority be con-
| sidefcd as a two-tnirds majority in
order to end the war and put our coun-
try in a position of helping to estab-
lish peace, and at the same time give
attention to domestic problems. On
this record we could appeal to the
restoration as seemed wise.
"The Republicans would secure inl-
mediate action. The Democrats would
be put in a much more advantageous
position in the next campaign than
they could be if they had to go before
the people sharing responsibility for a
delay which involves risks that nobody
can estimate"
"Do you think" Mr. Bryan was asked
that the President would accept any
compromise such as suggested ?"
THAT is good question and I wish
you would take down my answer" Mr..
Bryan began. ~ do not know anybody
who has authority to say what the
President would accept, and l do not
think it would be fair to ask him in
advance what he will accept, for, hav-
ing negotiated the treaty, to suggest
changes might put him in the attitude
of a breach Of faith with the Allies
The treaty was compromise, and he
could hardly suggest surrender or
its terms in advance of the action of
the Senate.
"If the Republicans do agree to the
terms that the Democrats think are
the best, that can be offered, and the
responsibility is thrown on the Re-
publicans for action, the Republicans
would have to act with the knowledge
that the President can refuse to sub
NIT the treaty with reservations adopt
ed, and, secondly, that the Allies might
refuse to accept the reservations after
ratification. That is the risk that the
Republicans have to take, If they are
allowed to have their way. And that
is why they would be likely to go as
far as they thought they could in the
way Of concessions. even If they could
have their own way BY the Democrats
withholding their votes"