Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1919 — NOW FOR RATIFICATION [ARTICLE]

NOW FOR RATIFICATION

President Wilson met the virtual challenge of the Senatorial opponents of the peace treaty and the League of Nations by the freest and fullest presentation of the conditions and considerations which dictated the engagemnets that are now awaiting ratification by the Senate. For three-and a half hours the President answered the questions propounded to him by members of the Foreign Relations committee. With patience, painstaking and the utmost frankness he responded to their request for information. This conference was without precedent in American history, but it

amply fulfilled the President’s promise—made months ago—that he would take the Senate and the country Into his confidence In respect to the treaty and the League. It was the fault of the Senate committee that this complete exposition and explanation of the treaty and the covenant was not sooner forthcoming. The President upon his return from France expressed his willingness —and at the conference showed his preparedness —to clarify and justify every act of the Paris peace council. From the lips of the man who was one of the authors of the treaty and - of the League—who knows every inch of the ground between their inception and their consummation —the Foreign Relations committe has learned that Article X of the covqpant is subject to our own judgment and to the authority of Congress; that the Monroe Doctrine is beyond the purview of the League; that questions of purely domestic policy and government, like immigration and the tariff, are equally outside its jurisdiction. If the Senators who have opposed the treaty and the League continue their obstruction it will not be for want of understanding and reassurances. Their opposition henceforth will be suspected as of a different origin. The President made it quite plain to the members of the Foreign Relations committee that, if they choose to regard their country’s obligations lightly, they tmay adopt interpretations that do not alter the text or impair the force of. the treaty. If such “interpretations” in a separate resolution will salve th.eir pride without at the same time jeopardizing the advantages which the United States derives from the treaty and the security which all the world obtains through the League, the Senators are free, so far as the President is concern-

ed, to take the Whatever the action of the recalcitrant ' Senators may be, the people's attitude will be unmistakable. They know the President has had a greater opportunity and a better right to judge of the need and meaning, and value of the treaty and of the League than the Senatorial critics of his work have had. If neither is perfect the people are not dissatisfied. They will not tolerate the Senate’s attempt to give them less because they have not obtained more. They want the treaty ratified and the covenant accepted without further delay.