Evening journal., 1921-02-16
coMMERcIALzNG PUBIC ARCHIVES.


LITNHE country is about to be treated TO the spectacle
Of a private citizen being called into the White
House put in charge OF vital documents and told TO col
late them for the personal OF Mr.. Wilson in the
future" declares the Republican Publicity Association
through its president Hon Jonathan Bourne Jr. Ray
Sannard Baker has offered and the President has ac-
ceped his services to collect for ready refer
the papers and documents Mr. Wilson's possession
retng to the work Of the peace conference The files
being put in shape 10 facilitate the preparation OF
book by Mr. Wilson when he has retired from the White
House and resumed the status Of private citizen 1t is
understood that for several weeks Mr. Baker has passed
part Of each day at the White House asserting the Yer
sales data and presumably the President viii take it
with him to his on'ce in his new residence
Is this the material that Mr.. wilson refused 10 transmit
10 the Senate by failure respond TO resolutions re-
questing Hf
In all the months that the peace treaty under con-
sideration in the Foregn Relations Committee and in the
Senate itself senators denied access to the data upon
which The league and treaty based and which was
available at all times 10 the President while ne was in
Paris.
Is the original copy the peace treaty itself returned
TO the President by the Senate to be included in the col
lection and carted away take its place in the private
nes OF Mr. Wilson?
There should be found way to prevent sIch wholesale
spohaton OF the United States Of stSe Mr. Viii
son Is President and such is charged by the Con-
suton with the negotiation OF treaties Our future
lations with Germany still undetermined, and the
President has the power 10 negotiations with her
at any time indeed II has been his duty to do
since the rejection OF the Versailles treaty by the Senate.
While matters remain their present state II is proper
ha the President retain in his possession the data bear
ing on the and its termination.
But II likewise will become the duty OF President Hard
ing 10 take up international relations in the condition
IN which they left by ms predecessor and endeavor 10
restore them 10 normal once more.
In the discharge OF that duty ne has right 10 all
public records that in the hands OF Mr. Wilson.
Such records the property Of the United States and
their future shoud with respect to such interna-
tonal negotiations may be entered upon by President
Harding or his Successors
II may be proper TO permit Citizen Wilson or any other
duly accredited citizen TO Them for reference in
the writing OF history for any other purpose but that
they shall become part Of the personal memoranda OF
Woodrow Wilson is uahinkable
The President made the fatal mistake while at Paris OF
treating the Versailles treaty Undertaking between
Germany, the allies and Woodrow Wilson the agent Of
100000 American citizens.
II largely because mis- disregard OF their interests
that he treaty unoeremoniousy rejected by their
elected representatives In the Senate
Now apparently he that records and documents
that formed part OF those negotiations his personal
property instead Of part Of the national archives
Mr. Wilson's mind should he dsabused OF that idea
before March and before ne has had chance to carry
his plans Of connscahon into effect