The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-26
POLITICS IS Ks
REAGTIN6 AS It
WASENPECTEDTO.
@
Probabilities are that Treaty
WIN Not be a Para
mount Issue.
BlITRIPARTIES UNCERTAIN
Situation Without 'Prece-
dent in History of Amer
lean Politics.
BY X. N. RICXEY.

WASHINGTON, March 26.-It has
been assumed that the final refusal OF
the Senate to advise and consent
70 the ratification OF the peace treaty,
would inevitably result in the treaty
being the paramount issue in the com
ing presidential campaign.
II has also been assumed that the
logic Of the situation would make
President Wilson the Democratic can.
didate for third term on a ratifica-
notwithstanding platform.
Nothing better. illustrates the con.
fusion Of thought on the subject OF the
coming presidential campaign than
that what nearly every one who thinks
politically was thinking and saying a
few short weeks ago hardly any one is
thinking or saying now.
The Senate has refused definitely
to advise and consent" to the Presi-
dents treaty and sent the document
back TO the White House.
The treaty probably will not be the
paramount issue in the coming cam
paign and President Wilson probably
viii not be a candidate.
The treaty will not be the paramount
issue, because when the final test
came in the Senate the only Demo.
cratic senators, with two exceptions.
who by their votes acknowledged the
Presidents leadership, are from south
of Mason and Dixon's line.
Northern Democrats Repudlate Presl.
dent Wilson's leadership.
By Joining the Republican reserva-
ton senator's, and voting to ratify the
treaty with reservations, which the
President said he would not accept,
the northern Democratic senator's re.
pudiated the Presidents leadership.
Strange things happen in politics,
but even in politics impossible things
do not happen
And in view of what happened in
the Senate to the treaty, 1t does not
seem possible that the Democratic con-
yention will Adopt platform calling
for the ratification of the treaty with
out reservations.
Even II President Wilson's health
would permit of his being candidate
which it probably will not, he certain.
iy would not he candidate on a plat.
form which did not unq:.alifiedly de-
mand treaty ratification without reser-
vations.
It's not clear Just what is to be done.
- any tliu6B LOWdTu STRENGTHENING out
the tangle OF our relations with the
rest Of the world between now and
the conventions OF the two parties.
But whatever is or is not done can
not create a situation which will give
the voters chance to decide between
the treaty which the President signed
and the treaty with the so-called
Lodge reservations, for which every
northern senator but two voted.
The first reaction among the lead
ers of both parties to the Senate ac-
ton on the treaty is to bring pruely
domestic questions to the front as the
basis for discussion as to politics and
candidates.
Uncertainty and lndecision Reign In
Both Parties.
This is exactly the opposite of the
reaction that was expected and pre-.
dicted up to a short time ago and is
another illusion of the confused think.
ing among the political leaders OF both
sides.
It is doubtful whether in the history
of latter-dzy American politics the
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