Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-07
Evening E Yesterday l40lZ
Knox Subterfure viii Fail.

Democrats of the United States Senate
arr practically solid in their opposition TO
the so-callcd peace resolution, and under
the leadership OF Senator Oscar W
Underwood. minority floor leader, and
Senator Gilbert NJ Hitchcock ranking
Democrat Of the foreign relations COM
mittec, they will present such an opposl-
tion lineup that it will be impossible ior
the Republicans to pass the resolution
, over the expected veto Of President VIII
SON Republican claims that the Demo
Gratis would flibustcr against tho resolu-
ton and not permit it TO come 81 vote ~
the Senate are rcpudiated on the Demo
cratic side of the chamber. The Demo
Gratis SAY they are quite willing e face
the issue presented in tho Knox resolu-
ton and do not intend to avoid i hy
+. fllhustcr
The Democratic program Is to have
reasonable debate on the Knox resolution
and permit it to come to q vote whenever
the Republican majority asks for action
Ii there is any one Democrat inclined g
flibuster. the party leaders do not know
it and onc-man fiibuster would get
nowhere. The party program docs noi
embrace fhhustcring tactics and Ropuoli-
can claims that the minority will attempt
to forestaIl vote arc declared 70 be en-
tirely without foundation.
Democrats say that the politics shown
hv the Knox resolution is such that the
minority Senators have no hesitancy IN
sduarely meeting the issue and permitting
it to go to the country. The question:
they say, is whether peace shall be made
in a Constitutional way. hy ratification
Of a peace treaty negotiated in accordance
with PRECEDENT and the Constitution. oT
whether peace shall he declared hv one
sided paper resolution. Senator Under
wood. the minority leader. says the Knox
resolution IS not only without Constltu-
tional standing. hut that even il i were
Constitutional il IS imperfectlv drawn and
amounts to nothing except makeshht
attempt to declare peace. lie said the
Senate Democrats had not fully mapped
out their line OF attack. but undoubtedly
the debate would hinge on the uncon--i
stitutionalitv Of the document, as well as
its futiIity and inefectivcness.
1t is gratifying 70 the Democratic
leaders Of the Senate that the party align
ment will be substantially solid against
the peace resolution. Not more than
three or four recalcitrant Democrats. who
.f Hg
Treaty. are expected to vote with the
Republicans for the makcshiit resolution
and it is predicted there may bc one or
two Republicans voting with the Demo-
Gratis against the unprecedented proposal
Outside Of this, however the party lines
will remain practically intact and adj
ministration supporters II the upper
chamber have accepted the Republican
challenge attempting peace BY paper |
resolution and will 90 to the country With |
the issue. That the resolution is q political |
bvplay, designed mainly as q campaign IS /
sue and to cover up the Republicans re- /
lection of the Treaty of Versailles is the |
contention Of the Senate Democrats who /
will resist every effort TO divert attention /
from the Peace Treaty by such uncon- /
stitutional methods The situation Is
very interesting, and also very uncom- +
Portable to the Republican party leaders. +
They know their party cannot afford to
go to the country on the ulain issue Of for /
or against peace, and they hope to avert /
serious dilemma by resorting TO the |
subterfuge of peace by joint resolution. I
But they will fail. The people well know /
where the real responsibility rests. I