PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.

Southland Times, Issue 18835, 31 May 1920, Page 4

PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS.

In forecasting that the Knox resolution declaring a state of peace with Germany would not get any further than While Louse we did not overstate the position and it is as obvious now as it was three mouths ago that all the efforts to keep the Peace Treaty out of the presidential elections next November will fail. President Wilson is evidently determined on giving the people an opportunity of deciding the vexed ques-

tions that separate him and the majority party in the Congress, but he is on a mission where the chances of success are small. If he had been able to go to the American people a year ago it is provable that he would have obtained a vote in support of the treaty, but since then domestic problems have intervened and it will be next to impossible to obtain anything like a clean-cut vote on the question. The Democrat party has gotten into bad odour in a variety of ways entirely unconnected with the Versailles Treaty and its ranks will probably be split upon the Irish question. The first tussle will come in the party convention when the last effort to keep the Treaty out of the contest will be made, but even if the Bryanitcs succeed in carrying the nomination of a man opposed to the Wilson view, the president will probably stump the country and conduct a campaign for the treatyirrespective of the party wishes. The possibility of President Wilson flouting custom and trying for a third term at White House is not yet settled, but it mast be admitted that the party is doomed to defeat unless events of an unexpected nature between now and November change the political situation. The liquor question Is going to play an important part in the fight. Neither party is definitely committed on the point, but there are several candidates for the Republican nomination who are taking up the cudgels on behalf of the “wets.” The Democrats generally have been opposed to prohibition, President Wilson amongst t hem, but they have not fought the question with any great enthusiasm. The P. ’ !>n wing of the Democrats is certainly ■•dry” and this will provide a complication for the party managers. The Irish vole has been moving away from the Democrat banner in spite of the pro Irish statements of several Cabinet ministers and the Republicans are evidently expecting a big “preen” vote. Anti-British declarations will be frequent and free in the political battle and in the general mix-up, the Peace Treaty is almost certain to be swamped.