Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-16

w wishers of the Treaty of Peace
think of its present ENHANCEMENT
and what, in their judgment should be done
to relieve the insufferable situation, is ad
mirably voiced in editorial from the New
York World, which we reproduce elsewhere
on this page with earnest commentator to
Z the truth-seeking reader. 1t is a specially
significant expression in that it comes from
the nations leading Democratic newspaper
and2a staunch friend to the Wilson Admin
istfation. We are pleased to observe, more
over, that it virtually comedies with the
position already taken by The Journal.
The World cuts to the vitals of the prob
lem when it says that the Treaty and the
League are mot a personal issue between
President Wilson and Senator LODGE but
that there are one hundred million other
Americans who have a direct stake in this
controversy, and there are hundreds of mil
lions of people in other countries whose in
terest is no less important" 1t was a sorry
day when this momentous matter, involving
theawelfare of the entire nation and of the
wide world as we'll, was made bone of par
tisane-contention' between Republicans and
Democrats, and a tug of war between a Senate
leader and the White House. 1t would have
been as reasonable in the summer of 1918 to
have drawn party lines on the question of sup
porting, our fighters at the front as it would
be to draw them at this equally critical juno
ture5oa the question of establishingT just and
durable peace. Whatever obstructs this now
all-important aim, whether political prejudice
or personal animus, should be put aside and
forgotten in the great service on which
America and mankind are anxiously waiting.
Far from thrusting the Treaty deeper into
politics by making it an issue in the next
Presidential campaign, all friends to the prln-
cipies of that noble covenant should CO.
operate for it's nOn-partisan and speedy ratlf1-
cation The notion of referendum is i'm
practicable and altogether undesirable for in
the very nature of the case such an adventure
would lead only to a bitter war OF words
ending in hopeless confusion. The Senate
should not and cannot escape its Constltu-
, tional responsibility by passing this question
on to an election which is some ten months
away and which at the earliest could bear no
real fruitage for considerably more than
year from the present troubled time.
Meanwhile the vagueness and instability OF
our foreign relations would wax more and
more inimical both to our own and to the
worlds welfare. Months ago the President
admenished the Senate that all the processes
of readjustment so needful in our passage
from war to peace were being retarded by
delay on the Treaty Every element of nor
: NAL life among u.s." said he, addressing the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee last Au-
gust, depends upon and awaits the ratifica-
ton of the Treaty of Peace" and he went on
to specify problem after problem OF the
weightiest economic and human concern
which could not be solved until a stabilizing
compact should go into effect. This consider
alton is even more cogent now than last sum-
AS we value prosperity anu are mlnuLul
of the nations honor and duty, we dare not
procrastinate on a matter that so vitality
touches our foreign trade, our industrial
security, our cost of living, and our sacred
obligations to the cause of international
peace and justice.
The only safe course and the only right
course, is, pointed out by the World when it
says:
'eTbe Presidents hope of an unqual-
Of tU No
realized, much to our regret. Senator
Lodges reservations have been decisive
" beaten, much to our delight. But
there is left great middle ground of
compromise and it is the business of the
two factions to reach an agreement for
which sixty-four Senators can vote, mind
full of their responsibility. When
the Senate has done it's duty the respon-
sibility again rests with the President.
He can refuse to exchange notifications if
he believes that in effect the Treaty has
been rewritten and it's great aims and
objects perverted. but no President
would take sr.Sh a step for light and
trivial reasons"
The fact Of immediate and pressing impor-
lance is that the Senate has not yet done it's
duty, and will not have done its duty until 1t
agrees upon ratifyng resolution which,
while taking cognizance of the conscientious
scrupfes of the so-called mild or reasonable
reservationists, leaves the substance and
spirit of the compact unimpaired.
Such action will deserve and in all likeli-
hood will receive the Presidents concurrence
It will clear the way for sorely needed read
Justtnent in our national and international
affairs 1t will save America from a sad blot
in her 'scutcheon and will put fresh heart into
all the worlds reconstructiVe labors. This
happy achievement waits only upon the aban-
donment of partisanship and opinionated
pride Surely, there are sixty-four Senators
who will cast aside those impediments and
make common cause for the good of their
county and their kind!
Too late now to rail against the spring
poet. He is just now preparing copy for the
Christmas magazines
Move is on foot to reduce the percentages