Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-05-13
WILSON s STAND
ON VERSAILLES
PACT DEFENDED
AND CRITICIZED
Senator Thomas, Democrat,
ASsaiIS 1t and Senator
Hitchcock, Also Democrat,
Takes Opposite Side,
WILL VOTE ON PEACE
RESOLUTION FRIDAY
CoIoradan Is Bitter in De-
nouncing Presidents At
titude; Says It Means Dis
solution of the Party,


Washington, May 12.-President
Wilson's recent call to his party TO
stand -four square. on the treaty
issue in the campaign. played
prominent part today in the senate
battle over the republican peace
resolution. Criticism and defense
of the president was voiced, Sena-
tor Thomas, democrat, of Colorado,
being among those who assailed
MIR. Wilson's position, declaring it
meant dissolution" of the dem
ocratic party.
The Colorado senator was oppos-
ing the peace resolution, but ne
took occasion to express resentment
against the imputation which he
declared the president placed upon
senators who had voted for treaty
reservations, that their action in
volved "dishonor."
Defending the president, Senator
Hitchcock of Nebraska, the admin
istration spokesman, declared the
president in his telegram to the
Oregon democrats had declared
his devotion to the league of ma
tions and denounced the Lodge res
ervations."
Republicans Are Blamed.
Senator Hitchcock declared that
the republicans in their "outra-
geous DELAY" on the treaty. and not
the president, had delayed peace
The resolution, Mr.. Hitchcock de-
clared, would not bring peace, put
was futile in the certainty OF an
executive veto. 1t is repubhcah'
expedient, he said, adopted by DIS
tracted" leaders and an unconstl-
tutional attempt to effect peace re-
pardless of the treaty involving
"dishonor" to America
Debate was confined to Senator'S
I1itchcock and Thomas. Tomorrow
addresses are planned by senators
Kellogg republican, of Minnesota
and Pomerene, democrat OF onio'
Negotiations took place today pc
tween republican and democratic
leaders for q, final vote tomorrow
~ the resolution. No agreement
could be reached, but with the rev
sneeches in prospect leaders
thought the matter would be dls-
nosed of not later than FRIDAY
Senator Hitchcock argued that the
presidents delineation OF ms =
noints entailed pledge TO sup
mort the league of nations plan
Senator Thomas denied that any
such obligation was binding ana
counter-charged that pledges
wade in the armistice had been
violated by the president and the
allies, He opposed the peace reso-
,ution. he said, because it trans
pressed executive authority
Imputation Is Resented.
'If the democratic party pledges
itseIf at San Francisco to the un-
conditional ratification or the
treaty of Versailles it will do so pe-
cause II doesn't want to live any
longer and takes that means o,
making its dissolution known.
senator Thomas said. Referring 10
the construction he placed on the
presidents telegram, he continues
"r resent with all the earnest
ness in my power the imputatlon
and 7 decline to act in obedience TO
anv command that Is not in mar
ynnnv with my conscience and my
conception of my duty. And l am
oranared to take any consequence
which the power of the executive
or the people may choose to IN
woke.
81 want, every time | look in the
mirror. to see a face that I'm not
ashamed of, and no question OF
expediency or partisanship can IN
fluence my conduct in dealing WIN
this great document (the treaty)
II protest against this mighty
question being made a question OF
party politics.
'rNo man can take rope and
nut IT around the neck of my party
and drag it unprotestingly to the
fate of utter dissolution
Senator Thomas also declared
that the presidents telegram nau
been viewed as a movement to de-
feat Senator Chamberlain, demo,
crat, Oregon, for denomination and
Senator Jones, republican, WASH
ington, joined in praise Of Senator
Chamberlain's efforts in the war
Senator Phelan, democrat, Califor-
MIA. said the presidents secretary
- l;eoloiped Such an intent,