The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-08-02
COLONEL HOUSE
IS SPILLlNG THE
POLITICAL BEANS
Presidents Confidential Agent Makes
Which Have Proved Good
Political Thunder.


House, who was a special representative
of President Wilson on varions mis-
sions to Europe, and who was the
closest confidant of the President at
the Peace Conference, is furnishing
some tremendously important ammu-
milton for the present Republican camt
paign. In an article to the Philadel-
phia Public Ledger, Sc says of the sit
uation as it existed after the signing
of the armistice: IW
"A preliminary treaty concerning
army, navy, reparatiohs and delimita-
ton of boundaries could have been
made by Christmas of 1918, and would
have ben not only the usual but the
obvious thing to do"
That was the program urged at the
time by the Republicans of the Senate.
Finding that the president turned
deaf ear to their suggestions, the Re-
publicans finally, on March 4, 1919
joined in a Round Robin" which 80
members of the new Senate signed, the
essential part of which was as fol-
lows:
Resolved by the Senate of the
United States in the discharge of its
constitutional duty of advise in regard
to treaties, that it is the sense of the
Senate that while it Is their sincere
desire that the nations of the world
SHOULD unite to promote peace and
general disarmament, the constitution
Of the league of nations in the form
now proposed should not be accepted
by the United States, and be it
Resolved further, that it is the
sense of the Senate that the negotia-
tons on the part of the United States
shrould Immediately be directed to the
utmost expedition of the urgent bust
ness of negotiating peace terms with
Germany satisfactory to the United
States and the nations with whom the
United States is associated nthe war
against the German Government, and
that the proposal TO ra league of ma
tons should be then taken up for care
full and serious consideration"
The Republicans point out that the
Senate proposed exactly what Col. e.
NJ. House now admits was the usual
and obvious thing to do, but which the
obstinacy of President Wilson prevent
ed. The resolution quoted above was
signed by Senators of every sort Of
view on other matters. 1t bore the sig
natures of members of the "old guard"
and or "progresGives. All shades of
Republican opinion joined in the dec
laration that the nations OF the world
should unite to promote peace and
general disarmament, but that the
question of league of nations should
not Interfere with the immediate ne
gotiation of a treaty of peace
In his speech of acceptance of the
Presidential nomination, Mr.. Harding
reiterates his belief in an association
of nations for the promotion of peace
"a tue Republican doctrine-but he
stands now as he did in his signing of
the Round Robin, for the preservation
of American independence. He stands
now as he did then for maintenance CT
the Constitutional requirement that
treaties shall be made by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate. He
stands now as he did then for repub-
lican form of government in which
there are three coordinate branches,
each performing its own deties and
respecting the jurisdiction and prer-
ogGtives of the others.
Mr.. Harding advocates what Col
House belatedly admits was the usual
and obvious thing to do. Mr.. Cox is
absolutely at one" with the President,
who is the cause of delay in perfecting
treaty of peace