Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-24
Thar Troublesome ArhcIe X.

Article X Of the treaty of Versailles is in
deed, the unknown quantity in the problem
of world peace, which the statesmen of all
nations are trying to solve, and until the
United States senate can reach agreement
with the president on just what this atice
means and shall mean, peace and return to
normal life seem to most observers impos-
sible.
observations interpreting this article and
specifying what obligations the United States
assumes under it, proposed all sides
1t remains to find an acceptable compromise
reservation" The majority of the country's
press seems to believe that such a compro-
mise will be reached and that the ratification
of the treaty will follow.
Some Democratic papers see in the reserva-
ton proposed by Senator Lodge, the Repub-
lican leader, substantial notification of the
League OF Nations idea. Though Mr.. Lodge
and his supporters speak of "Amercanizing
the treaty. the LOUISVILLE COURIER
JOURNAL holds that their Interpretation
would Americanize it, because it would deny
the American people the right to make any
promise for their future conduct which they
would be able to keep without the express
permission of some future congress" and the
DAYTON NEWS, edited by Governor Cox, of
Ohio, declares that "they want Article x
amended because they seek to shirk response
blity which civilization has demanded of all
nations" The CHATTANOOGA NEWS
sis not fortunate because ambiguous yet it
offers a 'basis for discussion which, We be-
lieve, will lead to ratification"
Those classifying themselves as "independ-
ent Democratic" take, for the most part, a
similar view. The PHILADELPHIA RECORD
is convinced that the Lodge idea "leaves alb
solutely nothing of the agreement" and the
NEW YORK TIMES fears it would make it
practically impossible for the United States
to conduct itself like high-souled nation and
friend of peace" The KNOXVILLE SEN
TINEL feels also that, in the current phrase,
it would "cut the heart of the treaty." and
adds:
ITO repudiate any moral obligation under
Article K to cooperate with other nations to
prevent wars would be to destroy the chief
incentive of the United States for entering the
league, for the. other nations would edually
not be bound by the terms of this article and
the whole scheme of the league to keep down
wars would fall to pieces
Yet not all the independent Democratic"
press goes so far as this. The BINGHAMTON
MORNING SUN says the various reservations
"can scarcely be distinguished save by those
who are trying to split hairs,' and the FORT
WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM thinks the diff
ference is almost that of tweededum and
tweedledee." The BOSTON POST finds the
Lodge reservations ''more terrifying in their
rhetoric than in their substance" while the
CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER thinks the
compromise terms proposed"
What about Republican opinion? The
NEW YORK TRIBUNE places the blame for
failure to reach an agreement squarely on
Senator Hitchcock-the SOLITARY Hitchcock !"
it calls him, for while other leaders have pro-
posed reservations, che refuses to mate
When asked to say what he wants he shakes
his head. When besought to choose from
among the goods offered he shakes his head
again" The WHEELING LNTELLIGENCER
thinks President Wilson has accepted the
very principle of the Lodge plant, and "now
contends only for verbiage of his own"