Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-23
SENATOR SMITH MAY
ENTER Presidential
PRIMARY IN GEORGIA
Says Democratic Voters
Should Be Allowed Free
Expression at PoIIs-De-
feat of Treaty a Calamity

Senator Hoke Smith. who returned
from Washington Sunday, on Mon
day morning issued a statement con-
corning the failure of the peace
treaty and the request for the use
of his name in the Georgia presi-
Dental primary.
Senator Smith states that he has
under serious consideration the re-
quest for him to enter the primary.
1t looks as if the views of the vast
majority of the voters Of Georgia
will have no real opportunity for
expression, as matters now stand,
says the senator, and some plan
should be adopted to give their views
representation.
Senator Smith regards the failure
of the treaty as national If not an
international calamity.
Senator Smith expects to be here
this week and will be at the Pied
mont hotel.
Senator's Statement
The senator's statement follows in
full:
THE failure of the senate to rat
ify the peace treaty is a national, if
not an international, calamity. 1t
has left us technically in a state of
war, hindering our commercial rela-
tions with Europe. 1t has prevent
ed the contribution of our influence
towards Quieting conditions in Eu
rope and towards establishing the
business situation throughout that
great continent. This is q serious
loss to our country and tragic loss
to them In my opinion, however,
it would have been even more I'M
fortunate to have accepted the treaty
without the reservations necessary to
protect American interests.
"Fffty-seven senators either voted
or were paired in favor of ratifi-
cation. Of the nineteen Democrats
who voted against ratifica ton, / do
not believe more than four would
have failed to support the treaty
with reservations except for the fact
that they had either promised the
president eight or ten months ago
to support the treaty without reser-
vations, or they believed he would
pigeonhole it if ratified with rcser-
vations.
The Doubtful States
%All the Democrats, except one.
from doubtful states supported the
treaty with reserva lions and they
all believed that the people OF their
states favored ratification with sub
stantial reservations. The failure of
at least fifteen moe Democrats to
support ratification with reserva-
1JIo -:
president on the subject.
1T is national calamity to take
this question into the political
campaign. 1t will be utterly impos-
sible, with the next congress, to
ratify the treaty without reserva-
lions just as strong as those before
the senate last week. We are not
only kept in a state of technical war.
but public attention. is withdrawn
from domestic problems of the
greatest Importance.
Presidential Primary
Il am considering the request that
my name go before the people Of
Georgia in the coming preferential
primary.
las the Hall. county Democrats
have pointed out, an unfortunate sit
uat:cIs mas developed in the Georgia
primary. 1t looks as if the views Of
the vast majority of the voters of
this state will have no real opportu-
nifty for expression.
Some plan should be adopted to
give this view opportunity for ex-
preston in tho coming Georgia pri-
mary.
THE party should plant itself upon
the great achievements Of the Dem
ocratic congress and administra ton,
bat It would be political suicide to
inGoTse the League of Nations with
out reservations or to indorse every
phase OF President Wilson's admin
istra ton.
1T should then nominate candi-
dates who will not only serve ably
when elected, but who cal help win
the fight