Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-14
CHAPTER XXXV-Continued

"TIILE the president was strug-
| W. Cling in Europe, his friends
W in America had cause for IN
dignation against the course adopted
bv the Republican obstructlonlsts
in the senate, which course, they
saw must have a serious II not Ia
tai effect upon developments over
seas. Occurrences on both sides OIL
the Atlantic became so closely inter-
woven that it is better not to sepa-
rate the two narratives, and as MI.
Creel. upon whose history L nave
already freely drawn, tells the story
with vigor and a true perceptlon OIL
the Significance of events, Il quote
at length from him:
"The early days Of February, 1919,
were bright with promise. Inc Eu'
ropean press, seeming to accept tne
presidents leadership as unshaken'
was more amiable in it's tone, the
bitterness bred by the decision as to
| the German colonies had abated,
Fiume and the Saar Basin had tax
en- discreet places in the background
with other deferred questions, ana
4 the voice of French and English ana
| italian liberalism was heard again.
On February 14th, the president re-
t norted the first draft of the league
CONSTITUTIONS draft that expressed
his principles without change-and
If was confirmed amid acclaim. Ii
was at this moment, unfortunately
that the president was compelled 10
return to the United States to sign
certain bills, and for the 'informa-
tion of the senate he carried with
him the covenant as agreed upon by
the allies.
eve come now to a slngularly
shameful chapter in American his
tory. At the time of the president s
decision to go to Paris, the chleI
/ point Of attack by the Republican
senators was that such a 'desert1on
of duty would delay the work OF
government and hold back the en-
tire program Of reconstruction. Yet
when the president returned for the
business of consideration and sigma
ture. the same Republican senators
united in a filibuster that permitted
congress to expire without the pas
sage of a single appropriation bill.
This exhibition of sheer mallgnance,
entailing an ultimate Of confusion
and disaster, was not only approved
by the Republican press, but ac-
tually applauded.
"rhe drafts of the league consti-
tuition was denounced even before
it's contents were known or ex-
planned. The bare fact that the doc
ument had proved acceptable to the
| British empire, aroused the instant
antagonism Of the professional
Irish-Americans, the professional
an-Americans, the profession
al Italian-Americans, and all those
others whose political fortunes de-
pended upon the persistence and &C
centuation Of racial preJudlces:
Where ONE hyphen was scourged
the year before, a SCORE OF n.y.
phens was now encouraged and ap'
proved. In Washington the presl
dent arranged a conference. with the
senators and representatives in
charge of foreign relations, and laid
the covenant frankly before them
for purposes of discussion and crit
icism. The attitude of the Repub
lican senators was one of sullen
ness and suspicion, Senator Lodge
refusing to state his objections OF
to make a single recommendation
Others, however, pointed out that
no express recognition was given tC
the Monroe Doctrine; that it was
not expressly provided that the
league should have no authority to
act or express a judgment on mat
tiers of domestic policy; that the
right to withdraw from the league
Il was not expressly recognized, anC
that the constitutional right of the
congress to determine all questions
of peace and war was not sufficient
ly safeguarded.
Attack by Lodge
"The president, in answer, gave
it as his opinion that these points
were already covered satisfactorily
in the covenant, but that he would
be glad to make the language more
explicit, and entered a promise tt
this effect. Mr.. Root and Mr.. Tai
were also furnished with copies Of
the covenant and asked for theil
, views and criticism, and upon re
ceipt of them the president again
gave assurance that every proposed
> change and Qualification would b.
made upon his return to Paris. OF
March 4th, Immediately following
: these conferences, and the day be
fore the sailing of the president
: Senator Lodge rose in his place anC
| led his Republican colleagues in
bold and open attack upon tn
r League of Nations and the war aim
of America. The following accoun