Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-20
SENATOR SMITH IS
SIRE Of 4 SPEEDY
PACT RATIFICATION
He Discusses Also Railroad
Status, jackson Day Din
ner and sWiIson'S Letter
and Party ST. don

Senator Hoke Smith. who was in At
lanta TO address the Atlanta Freight
bureau Monday night, on pending
railroad legislation in congress, is
confirmed in the belief he has here
tofore expressed that the Speace
treaty with reservations, will be rat
flied by the senate within thirty
days The senator arrived in Az
lanta Sunday and departed Tues
day for Washington.
Discussing matters Of general and
local interest with callers at the
Piedmont hotel Monday morning,
Senator Smith touched upon several
subjects besides the peace treaty,
notably legislation for the return of
the railroads TO private ownership;
the Jackson day dinner at Washing
ton: the attitude of William j..
Bryan towards the Democratic noml-
na ton; the Washington interpreta-
ton of President Wilson'S letter to
the Jackson dinner; the situation
in both the Democratic and Repub-
licanz parties respecting presidential
nominations: the failure of the DEM
. ocratic senators to elect a caucus
chairman, otherwise a senate mi
nority leader the status of Camp
Gordon and the likelihood of its be-
ing retained, and the vacancies on
the circuit court OF appeals. which
soon are to be filled by presidential
appointment.
Rail Legislation
The outstanding feature of the in
terview with the senator was his
statement concerning the railroad
legislation. which he will develop in
detail in his speech Monday night.
He is confident that the legislation.
which is now in conference. will
prove satisfactory alike to the ship
pers and the railroads, and he is
confident. moreover, that it will con-
tain adequate and eff1cacious means
for avertfng railroad strikes and
lockouts, which is matter of vital
public interest.
at doesn't seem likely that the
conferees will accept the anti-strtke
provision of the Cummins bills"
said he. But I believe that the
measure, as finally agreed upon,
will contain a provision that will
eliminate the danger of future.
strikes.
1T is my idea that this provision
will create a tribunal for the adj
Indication of wage disputes between
the railroad employees and the rail-
road operators. The findings of this
tribunal will be final, ard the bill
S Will make it a crime for either the
: cYaaloyes or operators to violate or
s-,.z to violate the scale Of. wages
fixed. / am not informed as to
: whether the conferees have worked
out the details of the plan, and 1t
may be that the interstate commerce
commission, which has the rate
making power. will be clothed with
the duty ahd responsibility of de-
tcTnining wages.
Confident of Camp
The senator believes that the pro-
vision above outlined will stand the
test OF the courts, and will prove
satisfactory alike to the railroad
employees and the railroad operators.
It does not interfere with. nor ques-
:ion the right to strike, but makes
II crime for either party to violate
o.. seek to violate the decision of the
tribunal that fixes wages.
Senator Smith is confident that
Camp Gordon will be retained. He
did not leave Washington until after
t:l4 subcommittee of the senate mill
tary affairs committee had agreed
unanimously to his amendment de-
signed TO save the big military reser-
1ation in which all Atlanta is so
much interested.
"And [ believe" he added. "tha-
the location Of the department of the
southeast in Atlanta will operate to
strengthen my amendment. when TIE
bill goes back to the house for con-
currence in senate changes. I fee,
however. that we can hold the
amendment by sheer force of merit.
Certainly. the subcommittee was i'm
pressed with the folly and eXtrava-
ance Of junking Camp Gordon. and
] am sure the same argument will
sv-ay the house,
Tie developments at the Jackson
{ Y dinner will neither hasten nor
Delay the ratification of the peace
treaty, in the opinion of Senator
smith He thinks it will be ratified
within thirty days, with reservations
and interpretations.
Bryan Is Sincere
The presidents letter urging that
t.,e treaty be made a partisan poll
teal Issue in the next campo ign"
said Mr.. Smith, is not going to deter
nor delay the ratification.
Senator Smith is convinced that
William j. Bryan isn't angling after
the Democratic nomination. He con
cedes to the commoner the utmost
sincerity in his declaration that he
doAsnt want the nomination.
Mr.. Bryan's attitude isn't that Of
p man seeking the presidential nom
nation said Senator Smith, land 1
am impressed with his sincerity. I
do not believe he is a candidate"
The senator thinks that the polit-
iaal situation in both parties is badly
muddled.