The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-06-29
Cummings Flags Republicans
for Rejecting Peace Treaty

ing amendments and reservations as
II took the representatives or the
allied government to draft IT.
II was not the business of the
president. when he brought thus
treaty back from France, to Join
with Mr. Lodge and other repuoh-
can leaders In their deliberate pur-
pose to destroy 1t. Had he initi-
ated, suggested or assented to
changes which would have substan.
TALLY altered its nature, IL would
have been "A distinct breach OF faith
with his associates OF the peace
council and a violation OF American
pledges. Everyone acquainted with
diplomatic usagcs, or with the plain
requirements OF honesty, under
stands this. The foolish invention
that the president refused TO per-
init the dottins OF an Il" or the
crossing OF a "t' has been so often
repeated that many honest people
believe in It's truth.
In every speech made during his
tour, the president stated entire
willingness TO accept any and all
reservations not incompatible with
Americas honor and true interests.
II is the plain intent OF the cove
nant that the Monroe doctrine is ex-
cluded. that domestic questions are
exempted, that not one American
can be sent out OF the country with
| out formal action by congress ana
| that he right OF withdrawal Is ah-
solute. II there are words which
can make these meanings clearer.
they will be welcomed. 1t Is not
reservations that the president
stands against, but notification.
When the president came back
from Paris in February, 1919. he
brought the first tentative draft OF
the covenant OF the league of ma
tions. He gave publicity to II. II
was published throughout the land.
He invited the friends OF such
league to submit criticisms Former
| President Taft offered four amend
mcnts: former Senator Root offered
pix amendments; and MIR. Hughes
| suggested seven. At n meeting OF
/ the committee on foreign relations
at the white house in March, 1919.
other changes were suggestedA
I These amendments were taken back
| by the president to Paris and their
substance was actually Incorporated
| in the revised draft OF the league.
| DR. Lowell. president OF Harvard
university, In his joint debate with
Senator Lodge invited the latter to
which the president might incorpo.
rate In the draft: but he refused so
to do. AT no time has he offered
constructive amendments. At no
| time has he failed to offer destruc-
/ tive criticism. So intolerant was
| his attitude that he would not even
consider compromise proposed by
| former President Taft OF his own
party and which was assured OF the
support of 40 democratic senators.
Senator Lodge knew that he con-
trolled the senate and that in his
own time and way, he could destroy
| the treaty.
This Is the sordid story of its de-
| feat No blacker crime against DIV
| ilization has ever soiled the pages
/ OF our history. The last chapter was
written at Chicago.
The republican platform not only
| repudiates the league of nations,
! but praises, without discrimination,
all OF the republican senators who
| participated in its defeat. Its words
of benediction fall alike upon the
! irreconcilables, the Lodge reserva-
| tionists. the mild rescrva,ionists and
those who proposed separate peace
with Germany. II Is consistent in
| one thing only. the recognition OF
the fact that the open foes OF the
treaty the secret foes of the treaty,
and the apparent friends OF the
treaty who conspircd with it's en-
emies. are equally responsible for
the destruction OF the instrument
itself. 1t would be idle to inquire
by what political legerdemain this
meaningless and yet ominous decla 70
ration was prepared. II is enough
to know that theN "old guard" sold
the honor OF America for the priv
ilege of nominating reactionary
! for president.
The Cause of Peace.
The war had SET great task for
statesmanship. The best thought OF