Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-09
HOUSE MEMBERS IN
WARM DEBATE Of
|PEACE RESOLUTION
Former Speaker Clark De-
MES Congress Has the
Authority to Act.

Authority to Act.
When the House resumed debate to-
day on the republican peace resoiu-
tion Representative Flood of Vir-
gfnia, ranking democratic member OF
the foreign affairs committee. an
nounced that the motion to recon-
NIT allowed under tho rule adopted
yesterday would propose straight
out repeal of all war legislation.
The motion will direct the foreign
Affairs committee, he said. to report
out resolution pnuh Tepsahn 1s.d Ine said
the motion would be defeated and
the resolution adopted soon after
debate closed automatically at
o'clock. Democratic leaders CONCEDED
that the republicans had the votes to
carry out their program.
Leader Clark In ODDesitien.
The six-hour debate today was
opened with Representative Clark Of
Missouri. the democratic leader and
former Speaker. opposing the meas
ure and Representative Madden, re-
publican, nlinoiQ speaking in its
Mr. Madden opposed the view that
the measure would be an invasion OF
tho constitutional powers OF the Presi-
dent. He said that since the Prssi-
dent had refused to compromise" on
the peace treaty. 1t was time for the
voice Of the people to be heard" add
ing that the resolution "presumes to
express their voice"
Representative Clark declared that
that title given the resolution was -
palpable misnomer," that the meas
ure would bring confusion twice
cnnfonDded" and that II Hnnld Lad "a
''all sorts OF international Quagmires."
Denies Right Of Congress to Act.
Congress has neither mandate nor
authority to do tho things now at
tempted" he declared. with q futile
Performance. a work Of supererogation.
full Of sound and fury. signifying moth
ing-except q desperate effort, and, as I
believe. an unavailing effort not to
make peace. but to mako some po-
htical capitai'-aDt to act ~ boomer
ang.
1T may well be doubted whether the
proponents OF this resolution believe
II will ever reach the statute books. az
I'm this debate they have intimated that
the President will veto 1t. He can do
nothing less consistent with his oath to
support and defend the Constitution,
gard for the duties Of the high once
which he holds
Cites Opposition to Measure.
Of this transaction somewhat pushing
in character" continued the demo-
cratic leader. This is essentially q
Senate joint resolution-the Knox
resolution-but the House ID debat-
ing 1t before the Senate has passed 1t.
I will confess that 1 suspect that tho
Senate will never consider 1t and
will never pass 1t.
What Congress should do and what
1T can do is to repe II the war legis-
lation and get back to an anti-war
basis and leave the formal making
of a peace treaty to the President
and Senate. who and who only have
You gentlemen. in trying to confer
on Congress powers which the Con-
0titution denied to II. are also seeking
the unattainable. The Constitution ID
against you, the opinions Of tho men
who made It, 80 far rs they ever ex-
pressed an opinion. are against you,
the commentators are against you
and the presidents Of 132 years are
against you. YOU say the President
with the veto power IL against you
requires courage in you to essay the
impossible"
Invasis. Of Power.
Representative Hull. democrat, Ten.
nessee. said there was mot the re-
hottest shadow even Of . heetinr
doubt" that the republican resolution
was an invasion Of the treaty-making
power. He cited authorities Of law
and history TO sustain his view.
Representative Dickinson, republican,
iowa, declared that ''the treaty-makin1
power Is deadlocked." and added:
Il am not ready to admit when Con-
gress once declares war no power to end
u exists except through tire treaty.
making power"
Representative Ferris. democrat. Okla
homa. said the resolution was seven
worse than nullity because it does
Under which 1t was being considered
which he said prohibited any amendment
&c this dangerous" resolution or the
Gotting OF an or crossing Of q l." and
eaded that no republican speaker dur
!ng the debate would yield for a ques-
Mr. Madden Defends Msve.
COMBATING the view of opponents
or The resolution, that II proposed
ar invasion of the constitutional pow
eTs of the President Representatiye
Madden. republican, Illinois. said II
cd not assume TO take away amy
OF the Presidents treaty making
III the treaty OF Versailles had
been ratified as presented by the
President" he said. it 10 "obylous"
that an American army "of anvwher.
from twenty-five to two hundred
thousand" would have been in Ar
,rrenia today and tho nation obi. rat I'd
for an expenditure of not less than
s151,"oo. GOO. to maintain q mandate
under the league OF nations over that
country.
Shall we protect America arainst
rnholy alliances. or shall we become
1nternat!onalists~ he asked. I'VE
should under no circumstances leon
ardize the freedom Of the western
hemisphere at the solicitation Of any
dreamer or doctrinaire Our FORE
fathers framed a government to save
in peace what they had gained in
war. and we are asked by the Presi-
dent TO create something that viii,
lose in peace what we won In war
Since the President has refused
to act. refused to consult refused TO
compromise. II seems to me the time
has come for the voice of the peopie
to be heard. and this resolution pre-
sumes 10 express their voice. for 7
verify believe that four-ffths Of the
American people are fo- America.
whatever the other one-ftth ray be
FOR. want TO see the league of
nations covenant Americanised.
GAS FROM Stalks PLAN