Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-06
DECLARES WILSON
SEEKS To PROLONG
AUTOCRAT|C POWER
Senator Outlines Basis Tn
His Belief That War Is
Over and the World Is at,
Peace

WASHINGTON, May 5.-Openlng
debate on his resolution to declare
the state of war with Germany and
Austria at an end, Senator Knox,
in the senate today that President
Wilson was arbitrarily maintaining
that the nation technically was at
war in order to coerce the senate rat
flying the treaty of Versailles.
There was no excuse whatsoever
for greatly prolonging the war be-
yond the signature of the armlstice,"
Senator Knox said. land the only eX-
PLANTATION for SO doing was the de-
liberate aim to retain all those auto
cratic compulsory powers with which
the executive had been endowed for
the prosecution Of the war, in order
that they might be used for other
purposes.
THE welfare and safety of the ma
ton imperatively demands that we
know we have peace. The whole
world seethes with revolution. Our
own nation is in ferment and toll.
Force and strife are rampant and
threaten the destruction not only of
our property, but of our free institu-
tons and even of our lives. And yet
we stand and have stood for months,
as a rudderless ship. laundering in
the trough of a tremendous sea.
1--WE must not dare longer to delay,
return to the order of government
of peace; we must not hazard fur
Their postponement in turning our
undivided deliberations to our home
problems. They are great enough to
tax the utmost wisdom which we
possess. AS a preliminary step, the
executive must be returned to his
peace-time powers and prerogatives.
Need, propriety, wisdom, cannot
opposition this"
Fallen in Esteem
Declaring that he entertained only
sympathy for the president in his,
illness and sympathy for the coun-
try which must suffer under him be-
cause of it." Senator Knox said it
was an unwelcome task ito judge
one who has fallen in public esteem"
He added, however. that when dan
ger threatened the nation, it must be
met forefronted and that who ven
lures to intervene against the safe.
and wise course must step aside Or
be crushed"
THE course Of the president ever
since he cruised to Europe to par
ticipated in the peace conference"
continued the former secretary Of
state, leaves no chance for doubt
that he will continue hereafter, as
heretofore, to thwart. so far as Re is
able, every attempt on the part of
the senate, the congress or the PED
pie to take any action, Immediately
or remote, affecting in however
slight degree, through change IT
MODIFICATION, the provisions Of the
treaty of Versailles as it came to us
fresh from his SIGNATURE
Launching into a 10000 word dis
cussioa of his resolution, the sena-
tor said congress had the power to
"unmake" any Of It's acts and conse-
quently had the power~to repeal the
resolution declaring a state of war
with the imperial German govern
ment and with the Austro-Hungarian
empire.
Pointing out that the war deolara-
ton by congress- was directed
against the imperial German govern
ment, Senator Knox said that gov
eminent had ceased to exist and with
it the enemy named by congress. He
argued further that the war, SO far
as the United States was concerned,
was ended by the silent cessation"
of hostilities.
Nation Is at Peace
Supporting his contention that in
ternationally the nation actually and
legally is at peace. the senator dis
cussed the terms and effect of the
armistice, declaring that by this doc
umeat Germany had conceded it's
ratification Of the treaty of Yer
sailles by Germany and the allies
made peace for the United States.
Reiterating opposition to the
treaty Of Versailles. Senator Knox
said it was almost universally dis
and and that the sgnats tSe
League Of Nations. but merely made
it safer for America to join.
Senator Knox said that although
America probably would secure prac-
tically all it desires from Germany
without ratifying the treaty of Yer
sailles, a supplemental treaty with
Germany should be concluded.
Summing up his arguments that
the war was at an end, Senator Knox
said:
First, the war is at an end by vir-
tue of the arms tice of November II,
1918, and Of amendments and renew
ais thereof, such armistice being IN
fact a capitulation ending HOSTILE
ties by virtual surrender of the en-
envy.
the Silent cessation Of hostiiities,
which concluded the war in fact.
Third, the war is at an end be-
cause the government against which
we specifically declared war has
ceased to exist.
Fourth, the war is at an end be-
cause we. together with associates
negotiated with the people
whom we had been fighting
a treaty Of peace which provided
. . that the war should terminate
and diplomatic relations be resumed
when the treaty came into force.
Senator Knox summed UP the legal
aspects Of the question as follows:
His Legal Contention
First, war is actual hostilities.
Second, that the power to declare
war was exclusively with congress,
which created the status Of war by a
law, like any other law, could be
amended, modified or repealed.
Fourth, that the purpose Of the
war powers of the constitution was
to give the national government the
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