The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-06
KNOX LEADS OFF
in PEACE FIGHT
Republican Senator From Penn
sylvania Attacks Wilson for
Trying to Force Treaty
WILL DEBATE FOR WEEK
Resolution Itself Not Expected
to Be Brought Up Before
the End of Next Week

Washington, May 5.-Senator Knox
of Pennsylvania, opened the Republi-
can fight in the Senate for peace today
urging the adoption Of a resolution re-
pealing the declaration Of war and
charging President Wilson of arbitrar
lily contending the nation is still at
war to coerce the Senate into ratify-
ing the treaty. The resolution itself is
not expected to be actually brought up
until late next week.
There was no excuse whatsoever
for greatly prolonging the war beyond
the signature of the armistice. Sena-
tor Knox said, Aand the only eyplana-
tion for SO doing was the deliberate
aim to retain all those autocratic com s
pulsory powers with which the execu-
tive had been endowed for the prose-
cution OF the war in order that they
might be used for other purposes.
THE welfare and safety Of The ma
tion imperatively demands tina. we
know we have peace. The whole world
seethes with revolution. Our own ma s.
tion is in ferment and toll. Force and
strife are rampant and threaten the
destruction, not only of our property,
but of our free institutions and even
of our lives. And yet we stand and
have stood for months, as rudder,ess
ship, laundering in the strength of a
tremendous sea.
1--WE must not dare longer to delay
q return to the order of government
peace; we must not hazard a further
postponement in turning our undivided
IL ! 11Ns~ HI
They are great enough to tax the ut
most wisdom which we possess. As
a preliminary step, the executive must
be returned to his peace time powers
and prerogatives. Need; propriety, wis
dom, cannot question this.
Declaring that he entertained oniv
sympathy for the president in his ILL.,
ness and sympathy for the country
which must suffer under him because
Of it." Senator Knox said it was an
unwelcome task 'to judge one who
has fallen in public esteem He added
however, that when danger threatened
the nation it must be met forefronted
and that who ventured to intervene
against the safe and wise course must
step aside or be crushed.
s4The course of the president ever
since he cruised to Europe to partici-
pate in the peace conference con-
timed the former secretary of state,
leaves no chance for doubt that he
will continue hereafter as heretofore,
TO thwart. so far as he is able, every
attempt on the part of the Senate, the
Congress or the people to take any ac-
lion. Immediately or remote, affecting
in however slighter degree, through
change or modification, the provisions
OF the treaty Of Versailles as It came
TO us fresh from his signature
Launching into a 30,000-word discus
sion of his resolution, the senator said
Congress had the power to unmake'
INV of IFS acts and consequently had
he nower to repeal the resolutions de-
c1arinp 4 state of war with the i'm
,ar;al German government and with
The Austro- Hungarian empire.
Pointing out that the war declara
~, Nv Congress was directed against
S. ;Yonerial German government, SEN
,tor knox said that government hae
,eased to exist and with It the enemy
, . nod ~ Congress He argued further
hat the war so ldT d. Lay o'iA.Su
states was concerned, was ended by
he silent cessation OF hostilltfes.
Snnnort;ng his contention that In
erna t;onally the nation actually and
erallv Is at peace. the senator dis
.usse5 the terms and effect OF the
,rmistice declaring that by this docu-
nent GERMANY had conceded its capi-
ulation. He contended also that raIi-
ication Of the treaty OF Versaliies py
ermany and the allies made peace
or the United States.
a. 1continued On Page 2.