El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-03-10
RUBS
SENATE WRONG


- 49,
against even interpretative reserva-
tons and certainly against all other
kinds OF reservations does several
things
Il separates Mr.. Wilson from
MIR. Hoover. who declared re-
Gently that he had enough faith
in the league OF nations 10 try
Il even with the Lodge reserva-
lions
Il discourages Democratic sena-
tors who have been working for
compromise on article ten and who
have offered interpretative reserva-
tions. These Mr.. Wilson dismisses
as a work Of -supersrogatiou-'
II reviVes talk Of n third term
for Mr.. Wilson. who Intention
ally or Internationally has not
taken the least pains TO refufe
the impression that he wants TO
PrOlonE the league controversy n
n vehicle for another campaign
In his own behalf.
It confirms the viewpoint OF sena-
tors Borah and Johnson. who have
argued all along that the league in
wolves a distinct departure in Ameri-
can foreign policy and that II Mr..
Wilson is right. the covenant should
be adopted without qualification and
If he is wrong, It should be respected
entirely without going through the
Icamouflage of reservations" Mr.
Wilson defines the alternatives the
same way. He sees no middle ground
Il challenges the mild reservation
lists to drop their middle grounds"
Il calls them mild nullifiers-" In
terminology that offends that group
of senators which has been zealously
trying since last November to bring
about the ratification Of the treaty
whip Crack to Democrats.
Finally. 70 cracks the whip over
the heads Of the Democratic party in
the senate and makes those sena-
tors who are up for reelection next
fall, stand firmly oy the president
who unquestion1biy can write into
the Democratic platform all OF ar
ticle ten whether he can get it into
the treaty or not
not and should not be made q cam
raign issue. but he doesn't control
the Democrats Of the senate The
president has compelled an offended
and reluctant following in the SEN
ate from compromising on reser-
vationist program he has put his
letter into the fight at the physcho-
logical moment But he has on the
other hand, forced the mild reser-
ivationlsts to take their stand with
senator Lodge and the Republican
rarity with the prospect that their
number added to the irreconcilables
in the Republican ranks viii be
enough TO accomplish what senator's
Borah. Knox. johnson and the rest
OF the out-and-out-opponen Of the
treaty have sought for months 70
accomplish. It does not make either
Democrats or Republicans comfort
able.
Awkward Part Of Situation
The awkward and regrettable part
Of the dilemma is that at heart the
senate Of the United States does not
want TO repudiate the obligations,
moral or physical, imposed upon this
country by the war. The very group
which is most opposed to the treaty
favored the famous paragraph five
OF senator Knox's resolution 10 the
general effect that whenever Il be-
came necessary 10 preserve peace in
the world. the United States would
even consider seriously putting the
strength Of its army and navy into
the balance to prevent a recurrence
of such a condition as brought on the
European war
So il looks as II the issue will go
to the people after all Mr.. Wilson
fighting proudly for his conception
of Americanism wants the American
people-not a bare majority OF the
senate-to pass upon American for
leigh policy.
II he Is TO be repudinted, he
wants 70 take his medicine in an
election which unlike 1918 would
be fought out primarily on mat
tiers OF foreign policy.
All OF which sounds good to sew
reral senators who are equally con
fident Of what the American people
would say In an election, but all Of
which hardly helps the chaos in
Europe during the next year or as
sures the American people an op-
portUnity 10 say what they think
for instance OF the postoffice depart
ment and express themselves at the
same time in favor Of q policy Of
international cooperation--Copy
1920, The FL Paso Herald