Evening star., 1920-08-08

"a between the republican and demo-
etattc parties, would it not be ad-
v!sable for the people to obtain some
definite assurance that their mandate.
as recorded in the coming election,
win be carried out with regard to the
treaty?
For while the country may elect
Cox, who stands for the ratification
of the league Of nations without
emasculatory reservations, the elec-
tions also may result in a republican
majority in the Senate. And the Sem
ate must pass upon the treaty and the
league covenant. Even should the
democrats gain control of the SEN
ate it will be by a narrow margin,
and it requires a two-thirds vote OF
the Senate to ratify a treaty. With
thirty-two members OF the Senate TO
be elected only-one-third of the en-
tire membership-it is not possible
that the democrats will control two
thirds of the Senate.
One-third of the Senate, plus one.
il republican and strongly anti
league, would be able to prevent the
ratification of the pact even II cox
the democratic standard bearer, were
elected President and sent the peace
treaty to the Senate for action
Plank In Ambiguous.
No matter what may be said OF the
discussion of the league of nations IN
the republican platform-it has been
charged that the league plank Is SO
ambiguous that almost any interpre-
tation may be placed upon it-there
is very little ambiguity about the re-
marks of Senator Harding. the re-
pubIican nominee, when discussing
the league of nations.
He has definitely announced his op-
position to the league of nations as
now constituted, and has pledged him.
self to sign a declaration OF peace
with Germany as quickly as 1t can De
sent to him by a republican ConSress'i
Gov. Cox, on the other hand. has an
nounced his determination to "go into
the league" Immediately il demo-
cratic victory is had at the polls in
November.
The suggestion has been made IN
spusrquarters ana It may Be carried
out within a few dayat that . duesr
tiounaire be drafted and transmitted
to each republican senator asking II
he will abide by the decision Of the
election. and il Gov. Cox is elected II
he will vote for ratification OF the
peace treaty with the league OF ma
tons covenant It is not improbable
that the QUESTIONABLE win be directed
TO all members Of the Senate. demo-
cratic as well as republican. for
number of the democrats opposed the
ratification of the league as it now
stands
The fact that the republicans will
control more than third of the SEN
ate and that in this case one-third OF
the Senate plus one will control the
treaty situation makes the condition
unusual On most issues a mere ma
joriy of the Senate and House would
be sufficient to control. and the peo-
pie electing a democratic Senate and
House and a democratic President
might rest assured that their desires
on the main issue in the campaign
would be carried out
Would weleone ReferenaHn-
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts,, the
republican leader of the Senate,
whose name has been attached to the
set of reservations to the treaty
adopted by the Senate and which
we're rejected by the President. has
several times said that he and the
other republican leaders would well
come a referendum Of the league OF
nations to the people. Hiram Johnson
Of California and William E. Borah of
Idaho, two of the bitterest enemies of
the league. also have urged that the
league issue be carried before the
people and have predicted that it
would be. viii these republican SEN
ators abide by the decision OF the
people? VIII they vote for the league
of nations IL Gov. Cox il elected
President?
Not even tho most sanGuine demo
Gratis believe that johnson and Bor2h
and Lodge will vote for the ratihca-
tion Of the league OF nations under
any circumstances, though the Mas
sachusetts senator probably would
support the league with the reserva-
tions bearing his name. But there is
no likelihood, If the democrats win
tho elections, that the treaty will
bear those reservations
And SO some Of the friends Of the
league are anxious to have this mat
ter determined. They want to put the
senators on record. if they can, as to
what course they will follow If the
people decide for the league and the
II the democrats win in the national
elections in November it Is considered
highly probable that President Will
son WIN send the treaty hack to the
Senate for ratification whom that
body meets In December.
Nay Gail the Senate.
It may be that he will call tho Sem
ate to meet in extraordinary session
the middle Of November. so that II
may take mp the treaty as early a.
possible. after the people have spoken.
There is no reason why. after the
referendum to the people has been
had. the matter of the treaty should
be put en- until March next There IL
every reason why there should be as
speedy action as possible to wind UP
the existing ofhcial state OF war be-
tween the United States and Ger
many and the United States and Aus
tria- The business interests Of the
country have been pressing for
months for 4 0uiek raturn IN uAnoa