Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-09
CONGRESS CANNOT
STAMPEDE: WILSON
INTO MEXICAN WAR
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

(Copyright, 1919, for The Atlanta Journal.)
WASHINGTON, Dec 5.-There
isn't going to be any armed interven-
ton in Mexico. Congress may pass
resolutions asking for severance of
diplomatic relations and even au-
thorize the use Of military and naval
forces, but under the constitution of
the United States, it remains for the
president 20 determine when and how
the best interests Of the country
will be served in dealing with for
eign Affairs.
Entirely apart from the personal
conference with the president, de-
manded by the senate for two of its
members in order that Mr.. Wilson
might have the views Of the senate
isc the question of entering upon a
new war at this time. What Sena-
tor Fall Of New Mexico may think
about the presidents attitude or
what other political opponents may
say is one thing, but what is actual
ly going to happen is quite another.
The fact is that there is much
more concern in executive quarters
industries, and the throwing out of
employment of thousands of men
because of the coal strike than
there is over embarking on a cam
paign Of bloodshed against 100000
helpless people below the Rio Grande.
Efforts to make the public believe
that it will take a handful of men
to cleanup" Mexico are not de-
ceiving the army officers as to the
size of the job. The American army
is more or less shattered. Demobili-
zation has been precipitate. Con-
gress has cut appropriations right
and left. The American air service
has gone to pieces. The regular army
is strategically distributed to assist
governors of states in handling in
dustrial disturbances. Calls for vol
unteers would have to be made and
new appropriations and taxes decided
upon.
But as said above, there is not GO
ing to be any intervention just now.
Indeed, theer is no reason to suppose
that congress really wants war. Of
course, the presidents refusal to in
torvene in Mexico would enable the
proponents of intervention to place
the blame for inaction squarely on
him. though talks with individual
members of congress lead to the sus-
piciou that if the president suddenly
put the matter up to congress, that
branch of the government would hest
tate to take the responsibility.
1t will be noted that notWithstand-
ing all the talk of armed lnterVen-
ton, the further distance that con-
gress seems willing to go is simple
withdraw wal of recognition and the
severance of diplomatic relations.
These steps have been under consid-
Grafton at the department of state
anyway, and are not understood to be
Objectionable to the president.
But the controversy over Mexico
at this time is really tempest in
a teapot. 1t is a side affair. The
real question that has been Indirect
ly raised by congress is whether or
not the president is incapable of per-
forming. public duties.
There is no doubt that the Mex
lean sitution has irritated the pres
Ident from time to time, there is
no doubt that at this time he shares
the outraged feelings of the senate
over the policies Of Mexico in the
Jenkins case, but there were things
happening during the war with Ger
many which deserved armed inter-
vention much more than today and
it was deemed inexpedient for many
reasons to indulge in a war below
the Rio Grande.
The condition is not much chang
ed. International affairs are in a
state of confusion. due to the fail
ure of the senate to give the ma
ton peace treaty and to help Eu-
rope to it's feet. Germany is hesi-
tating to approve the protocol SUBJ
mitted by the. allies, thinking the
senate action is in her interest. Do
mestic affairs inside the United
States are unsettled. President Will
son may be bitterly criticized for
failure to intervene in Mexico at
this time, but he isn't going to in
volve the country in any more wars
at present at least until Americas
own affairs are settled.