The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-02-13
The League Of Nations
Again Up in the Senate

The Peace Treaty with the Leagu,
of Nations compact is again befor'
the Senate for its action. The var
ious conflicting elements of that body
after months wasted In wrangling dis
putes, misleading arguments, confus
ion of meanings and partisan diatribe'
failing to agree upon any sort of com
promise in regard to Interpretation,
or reservations, Senator Lodge last
Monday moved to suspend the rules
and take up the treaty from the table
where it had been consigned on the
10th of last November. The motion
was adopted by an overwhelming vote
but there doesn't appear to be any
better feeling among the widely div.
ergent sentiments as to the true mean.
ing of the League or the practicable.
ity of burdening it with lot OF
doubtful, If not useless reservations
There has been altogether too much
partisan rancor and jealousy instead
of broad craftsmanship and honest
desire to serve humanity and the wofld
in its consideration. We don't be-
lieve we are mistaken when we say
that all this disgraceful and wasteful
delay is the result of partisan rancor
end jealousy.
The League of Nations pact, as it
was presented by the President to the
Senate, the only body in this country
with authority to ratify or conform
treaties, is the result Of months of ar
duous labor by the foremost states
men of all the allied powers. As in
all instruments of great import af-
fecting nations-or even national do
|mestic affairs-compromises were nec-
essarily made, but the controlling
spirit, the desire to effect a means by
which wars may be averted or minim-
lied, was jealously guarded. AS the
sole treaty-making or treaty-initiat-
ing authority Of the United States,
the President took an active, unself-
ish and laborious part in fashioniIfg
and shaping that great and far-reach-
ing Instrumentation it is a great in
strument that blazes the way of hu-
manity and democracy for the world.
Seeing that it was the best that could
be done in the unsettled condition of
the world, President Wilson gave it his
sanction along with the representa-
tives in the council of England, France,
Italy and the other leading allied pow
ers.
In good faith he presented the
Treaty and League as agreed upon to
the Senate for its ratification or re-
lection, for without ratification by
that body, it would be only a scrap of
paper" so far as the United States is
concerned. It's prompt ratification by
the Senate would have reflected credit
Upon President Wilson's administra-
ton. but the nations of the world had
Clready given him too much credit as
a forward-looking statesman to suit
the uneasy jealousy and envy of the
administrations partisan enemies. 1t
might sweep the country for the poll
tical party his administration repre-
sents at the next general election as
the one that had successfully conduct
ed Americas part in the great world
war for democracy and humanity.
This must be met and combatted, and
how better could this be done than by
discrediting the part President Will
son had taken in the peace council,
ferreting out and eXaggerating imag
mary flaws in the treaty pact hold
ing up ratification with interminable
debate and fault-fining and loading it
down with sinister reservations which