Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-04
PEACE RESOLUTION
WILL Be OPPOSED
BY THE DEMOCRATS
(The Atlanta Journal News Bureau)
623 Riggs Building.
BY THEODORE FILLER

WASHINGTON, May 1.-Senator
Oscar w. underwood, of Alabama,
newly elected minority leader of the
senate, has the prospect of an almost
solid Democratic alignment against
the so-called peace resolution" re-
ported by the majority Of the senate
committee on foreign relations.
1t was learned here today that with
three or four exceptions the senate
Democrats will vote against this res
olution. Senator Reed, of Missouri;
Walsh, of Massachusetts, and Gore OF
Oklahoma, who are foes of the peace
treaty, are likely to vote for the sub
stitute peace resolution. Senator
McCumber, Republican, mild reser-
vationist, may join the Democrats
and oppose the Knox resolution. He
committee reported out the resolution
by party vot.
That there will be no Democratic
filibuSter against the peace resolution
is certain. The senate Democrats are
ready to meet the Republican chal'
lenge without resorting to a filibuster
and no Democratic obstacle will be
put in the way of an early vote.
That the Knox resolution is both
unconstitutional and imperfect, even
admitting constitutionality, was de-
clared by Senator Underwood to The
j
Senator Underwood's first test of
senate leadership will come on the
peace resolution, and at this hour
Democrats believe he has the practl-
cally solid alignment of the Demo
Gratis against the Knox resolution
which now seems assured, means II
will be impossible to pass that reso-
luton over the expected veto of Pres
ident Wilson. A peace treaty with
reservations is regarded by Demo
Gratis as one thing; an unconstltu-
tional peace resolution is regarded as
quite another The peace resolution
will be adopted by almost strict
party vote. Sent to the White House,
where it is considered certain veto
awaits, and then the issue OF the
peace treaty and "peace by resolu-
ton will be projected into the cam
paign. -.
That the president will return the
treaty of Versailles to the senate
when he vetoes the so-called peace
Resolution is the expectation OF SEN
ate Democrats. No official 1ntorma-
ton to this effect has come to SEN
ator Underwood and other admins
tration supporters, but they believe
such a move by the president would
be both logical and psychological A
canvass of the situation on the Dem
ocratic side of the senate lndlcateS
that with the exception of possibly
three or four votes the minority will
vote against the Knox resolution. On
the other side, there is the possibly
ity that Senator McCumber, a mlld
reservationist, will vote with the
Democrats in opposition to the peace
proposal.
Practical party solidarity. of this
sort precludes any prediction that
the peace resolution may be passed
over the presidential veto. Demo-
Gratis believed likely to vote with the
tho 960ntiO1 OF the
peace resolution are Reed, Missouri;
Gore. Oklahoma, and Walsh, Massa-
chusetts, all bitter-end opponents OF
the peace treaty. There have been
rumors of a Democratic fl1buster
against the peace resolution, but it
developed today that such reports
are without foundation and the mi
uority is willing to face the issue.
There will be considerable debate on
the observation-disclosures the political
equation rs such that a Stationery
must be made to the country-but nj
ibuster suggestions find no sympa-
thetic response among Democratic
leaders of the senate, and the pro-
gram now is to permit the Knox res
olution to go to vote after reason
able discussion.
Aside from it's alleged unconstitu-
tionality, Senator Underwood and
other Democratic leaders of the sem
ate regard the peace resolution as al
imperfect ana nakeSnlIC propoSdl
and will so assail it when it comes
before the senate. The program of
the opposition is first to. contend IL IT
the resolution of peace has no stand
ing when it comes to ending a state
of war. Again, it will be declared
than ever with standing the resolu-
ton would be ineffective.
"Under the terms Of this resolu-
tion," said Senator Underwood to-
day, "the declaration of peace by the
United States is purely a ope-sided
Transaction The principle is about
the same as though I had agreed to
sell another man lot for $1,000
had made a deed to the lot of land.
delivered it and then told the pur-
chaser to pay me whenever it might
suit him We would present. Ger
many, as on a platter. resolution
of peace. leaving Germany in posses
sion of that document and permitting
her to take her own time about &C
ceDtiOg it. -