Evening star., 1920-03-16
AMER|CAN|zEDPACT
FACING SENATORS
Party Politics at Opening of
Big Campaign May
Be Factor.
BY NO. MESSENGER.


both parties will face the alternative
Of ratifying the "Americanized"
league of nations or rejecting it and
the treaty of peace IN finality. In
confronting the direct issue senators
are expected to shape their action by
their conscientious convictions as to
the bearing of their vote upon the
welfare of their country and Of man
kind at large. No one has a right to
impugn their motives otherwise. But
be that political and party consider
ations will enter to a degree.
The fact that q national campaign
impends. involving ths bessfbfattf ora
change in the administration " gov.
ernment. may touch upon what sena-
tors deem the best interests of their
country. Naturally republicans and
democrats are equally convinced that
the best interests of the country, yea,
even it's very salvation. depends upon
the success at the polls in November
Of their own party. To that extent
they may feel justified in pursuing
the course best calculated to enhance
party prospects.
Opinions That Differ.
And right there is where opinions
differ among republicans and demo-
Gratis. The overwhelming majority Of
republican senator's feel that 1t would
be the better politics as well as purer
patriotism to ratify the treaty as
"Americanized." A few republicans
dissent from that view in each aspect,
and are joined by handful of demo-
Gratis. Many democratic senators agree
that the treaty should be American
lied. but are embarrassed by the claim
of the President negotiator of the
treaty and titular head of their party,
that it has not been Americanized but
nullihed. These senators are in the
most difficult position of any.
Most of them in this class have the
consolation of knowing that they
would be supported by their constitu-
ency and the influential press Of their
states in agreeing to compromise
on the league of nations. They will
alternative Of acting in accordance
with the known views Of their con-
stituents. which agree with their own
judgment it turns out, or following
the lead of the head of the party.
Thealternative is aggravated by the
with repudiating their President. But,
they realize that they are senators of
the United States. acting by mandate
of the Constitution in advising
upon a treaty and "consenting," by a
vote of two-thirds, to its ratification.
The Constitution omits reference to
political considerations or party lead
ership.
What These Senators Face.
Representing at large the people
of their respective states, they are
presumed to advise the negotiator of
the treaty of the views of their con-
stituentS. and as to what they de-
sire to assent to in the treaty. In this
particular case it is declared that
the senators comprising the faction
at the moment being discussed will
have to choose between fulfilling the
known wishes and desires of the peo-
pie they represent or following the
behest of the President, who takes
a different view of the effect of the
compromise.
Aside from the pure principle Of
patriotism. or the question of what
is best for the country and the world
involved, many of the democratic
senators. rejecting still the opinions
of their constituents diner from
their party leader az to the political
expediency of rejecting ratification Of
the treaty They do not believe it
would be even good politics" for the
democratic party. il one desires to
descend to applying the test OF poll
tics to this transcendently important
question: thought obnoxious to
most senators.
Democrats Can Reject.
Only by vote Of considerable num-
ber Of democrats of the Senate can
the "Americanized' treaty be rejected.
Through votes cast for the reservations.
through speeches made in the long
months Of debate. it has been made
clear that many Of the democratic SEN
ators comprising such a number con-
scientiously favor the reservations.
1t is contended that for them. on the
final vote on ratification. to refuse to
contribute to the two-thirds necessary
to ratify will place them before their
constituents squarely in the attitude OF
having abandoned their convictions.