stated
to the Senate Committee that he regarded Article X as "the very
backbone of the whole Covenant," and that "without it the League would
be hardly more than an influential debating society." The opponents of
the League declared that this article would embroil the United States
in the internal affairs of Europe, and that it deprived Congress of its
constitutional right to declare war.

In the Senate there were three groups: the small number of
"irreconcilables" who opposed the ratification of the treaty in any
form; a larger group who favored ratification without amendments, but
who finally expressed their willingness to accept "interpretative
reservations"; and a large group composed mainly of Republicans who
favored the ratification of the treaty only on condition that there
should be attached to it reservations safeguarding what they declared
to be the fundamental rights and interests of the United States. This
group differed among themselves as to the character of the reservations
that were necessary, and some of them became known as "mild
reservationists."

It is probable that at the outset only the small group of
"irreconcilables" hoped or intended to bring about the defeat of the
treaty, but as the debate proceeded and the opposition to the treaty
received more and more popular support, the reservationists determined
to defeat the treaty altogether rather than to accept any compromise.
The Republican leaders were quick to realize that the tide of public
opinion had turned and was now running strongly against the President.
They determined, therefore, to ruin him at all hazards, and thus to
bring about the election of a Republican president.

When President Wilson realized that the treaty was really in danger of
defeat, he determined to go on an extended tour of the country for the
purpose of explaining the treaty to the people and bringing pressure to
bear on the Senate. Beginning at Columbus, Ohio, on September 4, he
proceeded through the northern tier of states to the Pacific coast,
then visited California and returned through Colorado. He addressed
large audiences who received him with great enthusiasm. He was
"trailed" by Senator Hiram Johnson, who was sent out by the opposition
in the Senate to present the other side. Johnson also attracted large
crowds. On the return trip, while delivering an address at Wichita,
Kansas, September 26, the President showed signs of a nervous breakdown
and retur