Editing Alben W. Barkley (section)

===World War I===
Barkley supported U.S. neutrality in World War I and endorsed Wilson's plan to purchase merchant ships for the U.S. instead of paying foreign carriers to travel waters containing German [[U-boat]]s.<ref name=libbey25>Libbey in ''Dear Alben'', p. 25</ref> His position was popular in his district, as 80% of the dark tobacco grown in western Kentucky was sold overseas, and higher shipping costs adversely affected profits.<ref name=libbey25 /> The House authorized the purchase, but Republicans and conservative Democrats in the Senate regarded the idea as socialistic and blocked its passage with a [[filibuster]].<ref name=libbey25 />

Wilson supporters, including Barkley, campaigned for his [[1916 United States presidential election|re-election in 1916]], using the slogan "he kept us out of war".<ref name=libbey29>Libbey in ''Dear Alben'', p. 29</ref> By early 1917, [[German Empire|Germany]] had lifted all restrictions on attacks on neutral shipping supplying Britain and France, outraging many Americans.<ref name=libbey29 /> The publication in February of the [[Zimmermann Telegram]], in which a German official proposed to Mexico that, if the U.S. entered the war, Mexico should declare war on them and the Germans would work to return [[Texas]], [[Arizona]], and [[New Mexico]] to Mexican control, also brought the United States closer to war.<ref name=libbey30>Libbey in ''Dear Alben'', p. 30</ref> Wilson asked Congress for a [[United States declaration of war on Germany (1917)|declaration of war]] on April 2, 1917, and Barkley voted for the resolution when it came before the House two weeks later.<ref name=libbey30 /> At 40 years old, he considered resigning his seat to enlist in the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]], but Wilson persuaded him not to do so.<ref name=libbey30 />

After the declaration of war, Barkley supported bills implementing [[Conscription in the United States#World War I|conscription]] and raising revenue for the fight.<ref name=libbey31 /> Between August and October 1918, he joined an unofficial congressional delegation that toured Europe, surveying the tactical situation and meeting with leaders there.<ref name=libbey30 /> Like Wilson, he supported U.S. ratification of the [[Treaty of Versailles]] and participation in the [[League of Nations]], but both measures failed after the election of a more conservative Congress in [[1918 United States Senate elections|1918]].<ref name=libbey32>Libbey in ''Dear Alben'', p. 32</ref>