The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-03-17

merican people-elections next autumn
may determine that-but as at present
recorded the senate has voted to put the
whole responsibility for the management
Of foreign affairs on congress and not on
the executive where it has lodged in part
heretofore.
This is the direct consequence of the
fact that President Wilson and congress
have been at odds Ii may never happen
AGAIN that the Presidency is occupied by
member Of one political party while
congress is dominated by members Of an
opposite political faith II the two
branches are of the same political COM
pleNlon and their responsibility to the
country is single, and not joint, then all
the talk about reservations and all the
changes that have been voted upon speci-
fymg that the United States assumes no
obligations unless congress says so have
been for naught America can partici-
pate fully III the league of nations or par.
italy according as congress gives the
word
President Wilson on the other hand,
having dealt for seven years with con
gfess has pictured to himself the difficult
ties Of doing anything international ii
the approval of congress has to be OBJ
tanned for each step. He remembers how
ready majority of the congress was TO
surrender American rights ON the high
seas when the McI-emorc resolution was
up. tie remembers how hard it has been
to put through congress any treaty or
agreement IN seven years relating to q
specific controversy. He has had to drive
congress. So he believes that the reser-
vations nullify the effective operation of
the treaty so far as America is concerned
But that need not happen if congress
and the executive are of one political
party and are driven by a compelling
public opinion The whole debate in the
senate has been about hypothetical cases
what might happen if the present fric
ton between the executive and legislative
branches were a permanent phase OF ~
merican government There are those
who think harmonious days may vet
come as between congress and the ex-
ecutive and men like Herbert Hoover,
say if the league can't be made to work
even with the unwieldy reservations then,
it hasn't the value attributed to it, For
after the present campaign is over and
Democratic or Republican President takes
office, the presumption is that he win
| carry with him "a congress of his owns
party.
Many Democrats led by the President
| and believing with him in the principle of
international cooperation where moral.
| influence is to be exerted will stand with.
| Mr.. Wilson to the finish They feel that
| they have stood for a glorious advance
| in international policy, a readiness to tut
America on record as ready to consider
gravely the possible violation of teirittr-
! lal integrity or political Independence
anywhere in the world They are ready
! to commit the United States to an active
protest should some country like Belgium
have its neutrality or independence
! threatened. But the majority il, congress
| is not ready to &c that far and the IT.
reconeilabes of the Republican party can
ioin with their Republican brethren
| ON the final vote aud together with the
| Democrats who disagree with Mr. Vii
son can administer final defeat for the
principle which the President has been
urging Mr. Wilson could pocket the
| treaty and carry it to the polls. II the
he would do it, they would help muster a
two thirds vote SO as to put the respon-