The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-13
WiIsOn-BryanSpIit
Has Helped Treaty
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright, 1919, by The
Intelhgencer.)

WASHINGTON. D. c., Jan. l2.-1ts
an i'll wind that blows no good-and
surveying the situation created by the
expressed difference Of opinion between
President Wilson and William Jennings
Bryan on making the Treaty campaign
issue, there is no doubt that the total
effect has been to hasten rather than
retard efforts toward ratification OF
the pact.
Several things have combined to give
q stimulus In Washington 20 the move
ment for ratification. One Is the news
from abroad telling OF the exchange or
notifications between the allies and
Germany and the establishment or the
League OF Nations. Far from being Il,
document that can now be revised ana
reframcd to meet the wishes OF Amerl-
can senators. il is now a choice between
American participation or isolation ana
Eiore than two-thiVds OF the senate fav-
ors our joining the partnership that IS
TO govern the peace of the world. The
fact that the United States is outside
Tor the time being whilst other nations
are going ahead with the job OF opcrat-
ing the peace treaty has brought GER
tain reaction. Nobody is wholly pleased
with what has happened. not even the
battalion Of death" rs the senators have
been called who favor the absolute re-
lection of the League can look with
satisfaction on the uncertainty that has
arisen abroad concerning the true intent
of America in foreign. policy.
Senate Situation,
The situation in the senate resolves
itself into this: Democrats are even
moro active than before in trying TO get
a compromise. Many Republicans are
\ vii
reach an agreement on the reservations.
No ncw-round reverence for the views
Of William jennings Bryan IS RESPONSE
BILE for the attitude OF the Democrats
but most Of them feel nc hit the nail on
The head in his Jackson Day speech and
that he sized up public opinion accur-
atesy. ,,
As for the letter written by President
Wilson. his friends still inSIst that II iS
not tp 10 the president to take the I'M
tIattyc in the compromise process ana
Ih,t he would stultify himself before
foreign governments II after signing q
contract with them he openly rccedeo
Prom, his position before the senate act
cd They declare that whenever an
American program OF reservations Is
adcptcd II will become the duty OF the
prcSi lent to argue in favor ot aCcep'-
,ncs Of those reservations ana that II"
must clearly demonstrate 10 iorcs"
governments that hs kept his. own
pledge in working for the unqualified
adoption OF the Peace Treaty.
Tie situation.
All the allies now have ratified with
out reservations and Mr.. wilson must
20 before them with plea FOR changes
because while the preamble or the treaty
is going to bc modified TO eliminate the
ncccssty Of u formal exchange OF notes
between the allies and America on the
reservations. the United States govern
ncnt will be obliged to obtain nevcrthc-
less the acquicsence Of the powers. MT.
Wilson will be required through the
secretary Of state to plead for rcScrra-
tions OF interpretations adopted by tho
senate Ii these constitute in erect
rejection Of the treaty, tho allies would
refuse 10 exchange notifications with the
trnuel States. The changes that are
now being discussed in the compromise
conversations arc designed TO make II
possible for foreign powers TO accept
Americas signature without debate. inc
president has heretofore said that when
the reservations are adopted by the sem
ate he must know whether the senate
has ratified or rejected the treaty. II is
possibIe for him not To decide that aues-
lion himself but 10 put IL squarely he-
fore the European powers. One hears
in the senate corridors much talk about
the impossihility OF compromise until
Mr.. wilson says what he will accept or
reject.
want Credentials.
Those who don't want TO do business
with the Democrats OF the compromIs-
ing sort insist on written credentials
from the president himself This Is
we'll nigh Impossible. But the Demo
cratic senator's know that II the rescrva-
tIons do not nullify the provisions Of
tho treaty Of course. the president will
accept them. They arc going ahead on
that assumption and in, seeking TO fix
the responsibility not for what has hap
peped I'm the treaty debate in the past
hut in the present. It will be interesting
TO watch how far the Republican lead
ers go In Insisting that Mr.. Wilson un-
derwrite everything the Democratic SEN
ators offer in the way OF n compromise.
One thing Is clear: Mr.. Wilson will not
he n party TO the compromise negotiat-
ions but once 4 compromise is effected
and the treaty is adopted by the senate
with reservations satisfactory to two
thirds OF the membership OF the senate
n IS an open secret in fact an excellent
bet that Mr. Wilson will pass the docu-
ment on TO the European powers.
For II is lhey VINO can TO" SaN
whether the United States has satisfied
the conditions upon which membership
in the League Of Nations is based. lr
they want America to join and can at
ford 10 give the United States special
Internretations Of treaty clauses and In
some cases an implied exemption from
obligation then il their business TO say.
New responsibility.
So far as President Wilson Is con
eerned. the ratification OF the peace
treaty by the European powers and the
setting up OF the council Of the League
~ Nations has in sense diminished
his owr discretionary powers over the
future action Of the senate and made
the task one entirely for the senate Of
the United States. Democrats and Re
1uhlicans at last are becoming conscious
81 their new responsibility and the pro-
ross toward compromise not only is
producing hopefulness on Capitol Hill
mt .iEnificantly enough II proTokes no
displeasure at the White House