The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-15
Sharpening His Veto
Pencil For the Knox
Peace Resolution
By DAVID LAWRENCE,
Icopyrigat By The 1ntellix enosr.)

WASHINGTON. D. e. May ii.--Pr-s-
.d"ut Wilson - sharpening his veto
oencrl for the Knox peace resolution.
Ia its present form even as amended
~ the Senate Il is objectionable u the
Waite House but there have been 50
many vial changes since The measure
passed the HuuS" that Il may ne a sim
pie repeal OF war tims laws when 4
ONES out Uf tar conference between
Doth Houses OF Congress. Therefor"
Judgment must b. suspended until the
resolution actually comes - thr Whit"
it"use but unless further amendments
axe made Il will BE- vetoed and with the
veto message viii com" the treaty ~
Versailles aS the unfulhlleu task o; the
senate.
Interest certrrS Iuurs upon what
ground the President VII; choose for hts
Veto message than n the possibility
nat lie might sign the resolution and
"9iut z" is inHd"quacy by referring the
'r"aty Of peace itself 10 the Senate for
action. Generally speaking. the Presi-
ION, IS said ~ contemplate vctUiug the
peace resolution "H the grounds ihAt
: distinctly nterf"res with the con
Stitu;.oual prerogatIv- ~ tn" executive
m maktng peace w:tA = foreign govern.
,aent. While there might D" no nhjer-
':"u f"- Instance IN the repeal ~ waf
time laws from a domestic Viewpoint
'hn President could contend tha, Z de
Weapons needed IN negotiating peace
with fore.Sn government For one
:linS Il endeSrOcs 10 dispose OF Ger
man property in tho United States in
Wilson's hands the power to hold .0at
property rs n club over Germany in the
event that new nsgo'iation tor 8
treaty With Germany might later be-
one necessary.
Lodges shsrswd Move.
~.
withdrew from the Knox resolution the
:equest for separate pea"e with Ger
many. thereby eliminating one patent
"bjectiou which the executive could
AVE raised. namely th;a the resolution
- an effort to force the hand Of the
executive in negotiations with a foreign
government by introducing l"sislatisc
St:pulattons bearing upon the ncgOtja-
ions themselves. SENATOR Knox. too
~nCoRnizcd in IN" House resolution
when he eliminated thu ultimatum re-
VIirinS Germany 20 Civ" America GER
tain commercial rights his heinG
matter roo that could only De arranged
ny communicate between the Amer
can executive and a foreign govern
mont.
But tho dilemma for the President. j,
y recognised comes from the fac; that
House Democrats wore willing TO Sup
pprt resoiation SIMPLY repeating war
Democrats on Capitol Hill have not
'at"ly been in roo close contact and tho
action OF tho fatrer IN generally thought
~ have been of their own initiative. The
President htnscif has declared once be-
fore that peace cannot be made by res
UluttoD ~ congress- and he Is unlikely
10 sanction such precedent at thtE
stage IF his controversy with Congress
over the respective rights OF the lngis-
is.ivH and executive branches OF the
government.
Mr. Wilson knows that IN the con-
ventlon a. which tho constitution OF the
.uitad States was framed. the original
Hare war and peace" but that the words
and peace" were eliminated by unant-
nous vote because Il wss contended
hat the legislative body would always
he too unwieldy to conduct negotiations
with torslEn government. Strangely
enough IL was also argued that peace
making by congress would be difficult
r not embarra SSng because u would be
= matter OF debate. thus making impos-
-lbis confidential exchanges held TO be
necessary 10 any quick or successful
agreement.
VIII Ne PASSED To-day
Tho Senate Is due 10 pass the Knox
0eace resolution Saturday. The Dem
"crats have decided II would be wisest
> let the resolution pass without de-
and the return OF the treaty Ot Yer
~allles to the Senste. Then Il Will be-
come necessary for the Republican ma
ciOnal convention at Chicago 10 express
ITSELF definitely on what action il pro-
roses with reference to the treaty. and
u will similarly compel the Democratic
convention to state It's program with
rstcrencc TO tho treaty. \ simple Mega
i've announcement such as the Indiana
Republican convention has passed might
ne sufficient while the treaty OF Yer
ssilles rs lodged In the White House
rigeon holes. but whom II Is before the