The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-13
WILSON'S POSITION MEANS DISSOLUTION
 OF PARTY-THOMAS
Presidents Call to Stand "Four-Square" on Treaty Issue in Camgaign
 Brings Hot Debate
By AssoeIated Press

Washington, May 12.-President Will sons recent call to his party to stand -Four square" on the treaty issue in the in the senate battle over the republican peace resolution. Criticism and defense cf the President was voiced, Senator Thomas, democrat, Colorado, being among those. who assaned MT. Wilson s position. declaring it meant Hdissolution'' of the democratic party.
 The Colorado senator was opposing the peace resolution, but he took occasion to express resentment against. the imputa- ton which he declared the President placed upon senators who had voted for treaty reservations. that their action in- volved '.dishonor."
 Defending the President, Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska, the administra- tion spokesman, declared the president in his telegram to Oregon democrats had simply declared his devotion to the League of Nations and denounced the Lodge reservations"
 REPUBLICANS BLAMED
 Senator Hitchcock charged that the re- pubIicans, in their outrageous delay on tie treaty, and not the President, hao delayed peace. The resolution, Mr. Hitch cock declared, would not bring peace but was futile in the certainty Of an executive veto It is a republican expe- dient, he said, adopted by distracted leaders and an unconstitutional attempt to effect peace, regardless of the treaty involving ''dishonor" to America
 Debate was confined to Senators Hitch- cock and Thomas.
 Tomorrow addresses are planned py Senators Kellogg, republican, Minnesota' and Pomerene, democrat, Ohio.
 Associations were had today between republican and democratic leaders Tor a final vote tomorrow on the resolution. No agreement could be reached, but with the few speeches in prospect ieaoers thought the matter would be dlsposeo of not later than Friday.
 senator Hitchcock argued that the president's delineation of his fourteen poinss entaiied a "pledge" to support the League of Nations plan.
 SAYS aPLEDGES" BROKEN
 Senator Thomas denied that any such obligation was binding and counter charged that pledges made Tn the ar naistice had been violated by the tres iuent and the allies. He opposed the peace resolution, he said. because II transgressed executive authority.
 If the democratic party pledges ltseil at san Francisco to the unconditlohal ratification of the treaty of Versailles II yvill do so because it doesn't want 10 live any longer and takes that means of making it's dissolution known, sen ator Thomas said. Referring to ths construction he placed on the Presidehl telegram, he added: .
 CT resent. with all the earnestness III my power the imputation and deciele to act in obedience to any commahi nat is not in harmony with my con science and my conception of my duly' And I am prepared to take any conse- n,ence- which the power of the executiNs or the people may choose to invoke
 1T want every time I look in the mir TOT to see a face that I'm not ashamed of. and no question or expediency or par tisauship can influence my conduct II. dealing with this great document ltne treaty.)
 q protest against this mighty aues- tion heing made a question of party poll tics. ,.
 NO man can take rope and put IL around the neck of my party and dras 1t unprotestingly to the fate of utter dissolution.
 Senator Thomas also declared that the Presidents telegram had been viewed as q movement to defeat Senator Cham henlain. democrat, Oregon. for renomlna- tida. and he and Senator Jones. repup- lican. Washington, joined in praise or Senator Chamberlain's efforts in the war. Senator Phelan, democrat, Califor- mia said the Presidents secretary had disclaimed such an intent.