New-York tribune., 1920-10-21
Article KS Funeral

Mr.. Root leaves little more to be
said. Doubtless there will be further
sputteiing discussion, but the weari-
some debate over Article X may be
considered closed.
The controversy has been end
less because it was apparently be-
lieved that impudent misrepresenta-
tion could indefinitely deceive. Yet
Article X is plain and speaks for
itself. Under it the United States is
to guarantee the territories and the
existing political independence of
some fifty nations. The world is to
he frozen into the form that four
gentlemen, sitting in secret conclave
at Paris in 1919, had adjudged
proper.
Whenever the article was violated
we were obligated to go to war In
each particular case our representa-
tive in the league council, our Pres
idcnt ard our Congress were to have
no choice. Unless the treaty we're
treated as a scrap of paper and our
national honor srllied our govern
ment. no matter what was it's belief
as to the justice or wisdom of par
ticipating in war. was bound to act.
To this sweeping pledge Senators
objected-not only because the
pledge was faulty in morals, but be-
cause in fact, # not in form, it left
to Congress only the function of
registering decisions elsewhere ar
rived at
The old French kings, when a par
lament refused to register a decree,
held what was called Bed of JUS
tice; the king tremendously re-
declared his royal will, and then
registration was automatic. The
Senate resisted the attempt to attach
a Bed of Justice annex to our Con-
stitution.
Instead of meeting the criticism
The covenants champions adopted
the familiar device of abusing their
opponents. When abuse did not con-
vince there came chanting Of the
query, Don't you favor league for
peace?" The issue was not between
league and no league, but over
whether the Wilson league needed
safeguarding.
At first many were naturally de-
luded But now it is clear that the
Senate led the revolt because it's
members, in virtue of their positions,
were the earliest informed. 1t is a
striking fact that in proportion as
the public has become instructed
the condemnation of Article X has
become more and more general.
There are those who think we
should assume the gigantic respon-
siblity of underwriting the existing
world. But this burden, if assumed,
should not be sneaked through or
lied through. If the advocates of
such an undertaking are idealists, as
they claim they are, they should be
idealists enough to speak candidly,
and to cease pretending that the
pledge is one that we can keep or
not keep as we may feel inclined
If the fiat ratificationists had at
any time faced the facts the debate
would long ago have been over. The
great majority of our people, no
matter what be the abstract merits
of a universal guaranty, have no de-
sire either to break the national
word or, if they keep it, to partic-
pate in every war of the future.
But, though the flat ratifcationists
have been expert in camouflage, the
truth has nevertheless made it's way.
What Mr. Root says the people al
ready think.
SO it seems a case of "Goodbv
Article K. For long time your dis
gulses were deceptive, but they are
now stripped away, and it is not nee
essary to bother with you more"