The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-04-16
TREATY STAND
is HIT BY HOKE SMITH

Washington, April 4.-Ringing is
the declaration of Senator Hoke Smith
of Georgia, one of the most prominent
of the Democratic Senators, in favor
of the attitude of Senator Lodge and
his Republican colleagues toward the
Americanization of the peace treaty.
at is hardly necessary" he saia,
"for me to express again my earnest
desire that the Senate ratify the trea-
ty with reservations protecting Amer
lean interests and preserving untram-
meled the discretion of Congress up
on subjects entrusted to it by the Con-
stitution.
"It is most important for our coun-
try to be no longer technically at war.
] am convinced that the interests of
the country require that the treacy
be ratified now. To carry it into the
campaign this fall will take the at
tention of the country away from do
mestic problems and leave the treaty
with no more prospects for ratifica-
tion in the future than it has at the
present time.
"More than one-third Of the Sena-
tors who will remain in the Senate
two years after the 1st of March are
opposed to the treaty without sub
stantial reservations, and, regardless
Of the election this fall, the treaty
cannot be ratified for two years long
er without substantially the reserva-
tions which majority of the Sena-
tors will now agree upon.
Anyone who will take the list OF
Senators to be elected this fall who
are opposed to ratification without
substantial reservations must concede
that quite number'of them win GER
tainly be reelected. My own judg.
ment is that the vote of the Senate
will be stronger the 4th Of next March
against ratifying the treaty without
reservations than it has been during
the past twelve months.
al do not believe that majority o1
Senators will at any time be found
no matter how distant that tice-
who will be willing to place the obli
cation upon this country to send oul
soldiers and our sailors into the war;
Of the world, as required by Article
x. The duties which the Constitution
places upon the Congress, and which
Article x would require them to ap
proach with prior obligation con
straining their action, must be remov
ed or the league cannot and shoul,
never be ratified. no 1o1 D19Ss1 1teft
"The questions before us today are
Shall we leave our country technical.
in state of war? Shall we refrain
from caring for the interests Of ou
country in connection with the read
justments that must be made unde
the terms of the treaty because tn,
covenant Of the league of nations il
! not to be made as strong as someon'
would have it?
| "To those who wish it stronger thar
the Senate is willing to leave it
appeal for favorable action on ratifi
cation. Even if they do not agre
with me that the notifications shoul,
be made, they must know they vii
never obtain a league covenant goinI
[ beyond the terms to which the majori
ty Of the Senate will now consent
They, therefore, by refusing vote 70
ratification keep this question befor
the country and before the Senate, In
terfering with other important prob
lens that should receive considera
ton, without the possibility Of doin
more in the direction of the cove
nant than they can help do now.
! "The friends of the covenant ca
never secure more than they can 81
cure now. If they cast away their or
portunity, the probability is that the
will lose it for all time. If they do nc
obtain all they wish, they certainl
obtain much that they wish. and the
serve their country and follow tn
wishes of the people of this countr
by ending the matter. I therefor
have supported and shall support tn
substitute offered by the Senator frol
Massachusetts and shall finally SUI
port for ratification the treaty undt
such reservations as the majority {
A. - "A