Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-17
The Reservation to Article X.

a PEOPLE. the determination of whose
a future hangs in the balance, deserves
and has right 10 demand from its Presi-
dent something more than the This is
acceptable 10 me. W. W." which he in
scrbed Il copy OF tho reservation to Article
y OF the peace treaty, submitted TO him by
Senator Hitchcock 1t has a right to know
whether its unacceptability lies in some deep
and fundamental reason. imperiling the
league of nations, for, after ALL the reServa
ton docs no more than rcaifirm the war
making power OF Congress it is set forth
in the Constitution, or if it is found in
petuant and almost childish nsistencc that
he have his own way in word and in let
tcr-the unreasonablencss OF man who has
been most sorely tried and now is
emerging from prolonged and serious illness.
Wherever its unacceptability lies. the coun-
try is not inclined to accept without demur
the curt and percmptory manner in which
the President dismissed the reservation from
further consideration.
The answer not long in coming, and
it carried singing rebukc. With the as
sistance of fourteen Democrats, the -Repub-
lean Senator'S voting soidly, accepted the
reservation which, its proponents claim, will
thoroughly Amcricanize Article Y. and safe
guard this nation from mandatory embrol-
ment in foreign affairs. Even with the two
to-one vote in favor of the reservation, it
is by no means certain that sufficient
strength can be mustered TO adopt the treaty.
In any event ii may be considered dead so
far as this Senate is concerned. Should the
unexpected come to pass and the treaty be
ratified, the President has made it unnlis-
takably plain that he would pocket it. Should
The Senate fail to ratify, the result would
be largely tho same. In either case the
treaty becomes one, even if not the dominant,
issue in the presidential campaign.
There arc those who still profess 10 be-
llpye that the President. DOkGr Darlancp
is bluding; that should the Senate rat;fy
the amended treaty Objectionable as it might
he to him, he would not dare to carry his
announced determination to its ultimate con-
cluson and refuse to submit it. But the
President has just that sort of determina-
ton and that is Just what he will do so
surely as the treaty does not come to him
in tho form that he has demanded. If tho
treaty issue must go before the people in
political campaign 1T may be hoped that the
Senate will complete its ratification. Then
tho issue would be clear-cut, for, with the
President refusing TO accept it, the burden
OF responsibility would he squarely on him.
But if the Presidents finger were more
closely on the pulse of the people, il he
could read their wishes and know more in
timately what they believe is best for Amer
lea, he would abandon his arbitrary atti-
tude and sign the treaty it comes from
the Senate.
Frankly the people do not want and will
not consent that the treaty be made tho
dominant issue in the coming campaign.
despite the evident desire of certain leaders
i'll both political camps to invest it with that
role. This campaign is going to be fought
out on the straight issue OF Endorsement Of
the Democratic record during tho last four
years and that record tho party is not
afraid TO stand.