The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-04-20

thrust upon the consideration Of the
senate a document involving a change
in the very nature of u government
and committing this nation to a course
of conduct in violation OF all tradi-
tons, precedents and the admonitions
of American leadership from the very
beginning of our government.
For nearly eight months after the
election of 1918, President Wilson oc-
oupied himself exclusively with affairs
in Europe. He kept congress away
from Washington for nearly three
months after the first date upon which
it was possible to summon it. I'M
mediately upon its assembling he
thrust into the foreground OF the de-
alterations of the senate his scheme
Tor a world government, designedly
entangled with a peace treaty which
otherwise could have been ratified be-
fore the end of the summer of 1919.
President Wilson, and he alone,
bears the responsibility for the dead
locking Of the wheels of legislation.
his wilfulness, his defiant refusal 1.
compromise or cooperate with the
legislative branch of government, his
veto of Americanizing reservations
which would have made the adoption
OF the treaty and the clearing of the
Inrlre go,. Ian,a-f:a lanfuIatson no fba
sole cause of the practical inability
OF one branch of congress to give
serious consideration to a large pro-
gram of domestic legislation.
Despite these difficulties the neces-
sary appropriations for the various
departments of government, reduced
so far as it has been possible to re-
duce them in the face of executive
opposition and pressure, have been
made and many important measures,
passed through both houses. Now
that the treaty is out of the way it
will be possible for the senate to clear
its calendar of many important mea-
sures which have been formulated
and sent owe from the house.
But the question. What has the
present congress Accomplished" may
be easily answered in a few words.
1t has preserved the rights, inter
ests and ideals of the United States
OF America from their attempted de-
struction through the un-American-
ized treaty and covenant of the league
OF nations.
If the present congress had done
nothing more than this it would have
performed a greater service to the
American people than has been rem
dered by any legislative assemblage
since the patriot fathers enacted the
Declaration of Independence.
AS for the problems of domestic
reconstruction yet to be solved, prob
lens staggering in their immensely
after a seven-year period OF Demo-
cratic destructive achievement, the
present congress, during the few
weeks of the present session remail-
ing, may be depended upon to add
much TO the record of substantial
progress already made. Necessarily
the real beginning of this great work
must be postponed until the mex con-
gress is called into extraordinary ses-
sion early in the Republican admins
tration, which will be inaugurated on
March 4th of next year, and co-opera-
ton will become possible between
the legislative and executive branches
of government.
Surely the Democratic politicians
who complain because the Republi-
can congress has not already accom-
plished the work of reconstruction
have nc adequate conception Of the
havoc they have wreaked in seven
years. The Republican congress is
in the position of a salvage corps that
comes along in the wake of a cyclone
or an earthquake. To tear things
down-to uproot structures from their
foundations, to tumble buildings into
ruins a far easier task than it is
to collect the debris and put it to-
gether again. Republican leadership
is doing and will continue to do, the
best it can to repair the damage, some
of it seemingly irreparable. that has
been done by the Wilson administra-
ton.
Meanwhile the w~reckers, at least,
ought to be patient with the wreck
ing crew.