Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-08
DEMOCRATS SAID
NOT To WANT MAN
ON WAR DEBT BODY
Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
40S Evans Building,
BY THEODORE TIIJ,ER

WASHINGTON, March 5.-Presi-
dent Harding may have further
| trouble in getting a senate Demo-
/ crat % serve on the World war debt
funding commission because Of the
feeling among certain Democratic
leaders of the senate, as learned to-
day, against Democratic representa-
ton on the debt board. 1t is reliably
reported in Democratic circles that
Il quiet movement has been under
way on the minority side of the
senate not to have any Democrat &C
cept the place offered by the presi-
dent, first to Senator Glass, of Vir
ginia, and then to Senator Simmons,
of North Carolina.
Both Senators Glass and Simmons
declined the appointment without
giving full reasons, it is thought
here. Senator Glass pleaded that
there We're certain circumstances,
which he did not detail, making it
impossible for him to serve. Sena-
tor Simmons, who is at his home
in Newbern, N. O., pleaded illness.
Meanwhile, there came today APP
parently trustworthy reports that a
number of Democratic senators be-
lieve it would be unwise from the
political standpoint, for any Demo
cratic member of the upper cham
Der to so on the debt funding COM
mission. 1t is reported that there
has been under-surface propaganda
along this line and the hope has
been expressed by such Democrats
as Robinson, of Arkansas, and Over
man, of North Carolina, two of the
leaders of the minority, that no SEN
q 10Y
Harris Amendment
Taken in connection with the
declarations of Senators Glass and
Simmons such reports are given adj
ditional strength and plausibility.
That the president will have more
trouble, should he pick another Dem
ocrat, is being privately predicted.
When the Harris amendment for
Democratic representation on the
debt commission was pending in the
senate, Senator Robinson, acting
minority leader, said che was not
keen at this late date for such rep
resentation."
However, the senate proceeded to
adopt the Harris amendment by a
viva voce vote and. soon thereafter
LIlS VI OSluCDI SuUlu1IlGu lI1S
of Senator Glass, Representative
Crisp, of Georgia, and former Rep
resentative Richard Olney, of Massa-
chusetts, as Democratic members of
the debt funding board. When Sena.
tor Glass declined, and he had not
been consulted by the president in
advance, Senator Simmons was
and he promptly wired Sena-
tor Overman to decline in his name.
So far as is known here, only Rep
Crisp has actually &C.
cepted the appointment. He went
to the White House Saturday and
thanked the president for the honor,
and accepted it. The position Of Mr..
Olney has not been revealed here.
Democrats Views
There seems to be no doubt, how
ever, of underestimate opposition |
senate Democrats to the plan
Tor Democratic representation, just |
as many Democrats did not want |
Senator Underwood, their leader, to |
De a delegate to the arms conference |
last year. They held that Senator |
service in way bound |
The minority to accept the results
Of the conference. Since only Re.
publicans adjusted the British debt,
objective senators now contend, Re-
oublicans should finish out the job |
Of debt adjustment without bring
ng in Democrats at this late hour. |
Senator Harris has been aware of |
opposition to his proposal in Demo
cratic ranks since he first intro
1uced the bill last December. He
.ook the position that the settle
nent of the World war debt problem
was a matter touching every man,
woman and child in America, and
hat d should not be made a par
-isan question. He has felt that
President Harding should have APP
pointed one or more Democrats on
The original commission, but that
he failure Of the president to rec
ognize the minority party should
not justify opposition to representa-
lion at this late date.
The Georgia senator, it is said.
has known of opposition to his pro-
posal, some Of it in quarters which
justified membership of Senator I'M