South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-25
Other Editors Than Ours
TREATY POSITION RESTATED.
(South Bend Tribune. Dec. .. 1917

The assembling Of congress for the regular SESSION
suggests the utility Of a restatement of their atti-
tude toward the treaty Of peace with Germany and
the League Of Nations covenant by newspapers
which pretend affect public opinion This re-
statement seems necessary because failure Of the
treaty at the extraordinary session seemed to throw
men off their balance for the moment and caused
uncertainty the exact status Of the treaty
and the position of the interests before the
people This confusion was the direct result of the
dramatic end OF the session
The career of the treaty has been series Of par
hamentary maneuvers. most of them embarrassing
to the public some difhcult 10 understand parti-
politics played a part in these parliamentary
chess games, Notwithstanding the protestations OF
public men against making the treaty a partisan
issue To be honest Of the democratic senators
fought for the treaty because they believed in IT,
while others did SIMPLY Wilson men: and
republican senators fought against il because
;hey believe IT 10 be dangerous while others OPP
posed it because they against Pres't Wilson
This is The popular and true comprehension of the
lineup the senate.
To understand the final, dramatic treaty incidents
of the special session one must keep in mind that
each faction desired TO place the responsibility for
defeat the other Neither willing 10 shoulder
&c. And both played for position by which they
could make II appear that the other was 10 blame
That Is why the events baffled many readers
sen. Lodge. for instance. attempted give i'm
preston that .Prest Wilson had killed his own
'reay while the democratic leaders pointed the
eusinE finger al Lodge. II was a case Of Who KILL
ed Cock robin p"
The enemies or the treaty tried the last mo-
went 90 make reservations as strong and as power
full tor harm amendme nts That why reser-
Walton Program failed So the country is given the
impression thai Sen. Lodge and the leading anti
treaty senators for the treaty with reserya-
tious True they did vote for with the Lodge res
ervatlOnS. which were strong practically
uuHfy the treaty and were preceded 10y preamble
which In the opinion of many leading observers OF
both parties vicious That a peculiar way
of being for the treaty
The Tribune has been unquahfedly i'm favor OF
the section Of the peace treaty which affects Ger
many. And il has favored the League OF Nations
section with reservations which would make
tain clauses more explicit and therefore safer Il
tons ana had argued in favor OF keeping the issue
rut of partisan politics This newspaper was AGAINST
amendments by the senate because il considered any
attempt ro amend the treaty in the senate uncou-
sti,uuousI and impractical IL believed and still
chat respect our stated reserva-
tlons
But The Tribune did not endorse in full the So
called Lodge reservations which appeared after the
tu.. udmtnts were beaten. IL was among the frs.
revsI 7perS OF the country point pre-
amble was offensive because 10 attempted deprive
our allies OF the freedom OF action which we
the Ioth article We could not be sorry that the
treaty failed. II pass IL had 20 carry the Lodge
excavations as they came out OF the committee.
The Tribune believes that the United States
world It's honest and hearty cooperation any
casona0e scheme 90 eliminate IL believes thai
the League OF Nations is such scheme. Il believes
thar reseUt auors certain provisions should
company our ratification. But 70 does not believe IN
reservations which intended nulilfy the
which potential of lowering the tremendous
prestige OF the United moral leader OF
the world powers