Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1919 — TREATY VOTE IS NEAR IN SENATE [ARTICLE]

TREATY VOTE IS NEAR IN SENATE

Lodge Challenges Administration to Make Move, But Tangle Prevents. GOES BACK TO LONG TALK Clerks All Ready to Begin Calling the Roll on Hitchcock Resolution, When Senator Jones Interposed His Objection. Washington, Nov. 7. —After a sharp and fruitless preliminary skirmish during which a vote on ratification of the peace treaty without reservations for a time seemed imminent, the senate back to its regular order of business and began formal consideration l of the reservations recommended by the foreign relatione committee. i The excitement began when an immediate vote on the ratification of the treaty of Versailles without reservations was proposed after Republican Leader Lodge had challenged the administration to make such a move. Senator Hitchcock accepted the challenge and made a motion that the senate ratify the treaty without reservation. He then demanded a roll call. Instead of proceeding to vote on Senator Hitchcock’s motion for unreserved ratification, the senate revived discussion on another proposal by Senator Hitchcock to report the treaty immediately from the committee of the whole In order to consider resolutions of ratification. Wide Difference of Opinion. . There was a wide difference of opln- ' ion as to what would be the status of the treaty should the resolution of ratification be defeated. i Senator Underwood said he would ’vote against a resolution containing reservations and Senator Lodge warned that if the treaty were rejectred with reservations attached, the de'lay that would follow would “be the \ delay of death.” Senator Underwood’s proposal followed discussion of parliamentary [procedure which was attended by ’ great confusion. Half a dozen senators frequently sought to speak at the same time and Vice President Marshall was kept busy banging his gavel for order.

Underwood la Overruled. Senator Hitchcock’s motion to report the treaty and take up the ratification resolution finally was displaced by Senator Lodge’s original motion to take up reservations. Vice President Marshall overruled Senator Underwood’s point of order against immtediate consideration of reservations. In overruling Senator Underwood’s point of order Vice President Marshall eeid z he was not willing to make a narrow construction of senate rules. The right to consider reservations immediately, he said, should be given in Justice to senators who had voted against amendments with the Idea that they could secure reservations on the same subject. The majority of the senate, the vice president ruled, would be given every honest opportunity to enforce Its will In regard to the treaty, regardless of technicalities. Senator Jones said he objected to a vote on unreserved ratification, because senators who favored reserva tlons In lieu of amendments would be deprived of voting for such reservations.

Senator Fall Objects. When Senator Hitchcock first presented his motion for an immediate vote on ratification without reserva* tlons, Senator Fall of New Mexico, objected because he said the procedure was not regular. He warned the administration members that they were playing with fire, adding: “If two-thirds of the senators fail to vote for this motion the treaty is dead forever.” Senator Hitchcock thereupon altered his request to the following: “It is agreed by unanimous consent that the senate will Immediately pass to the parliamentary stage of the senate and shall vote upon the following resolution: I “ ’Resolved, two-thirds of the senators present and voting concurring therein, that the senate advises and consents to the ratification of the trea'ty of peace with Germany signed at Versailles, France, June, 28, 1919? “And it is further agreed that if the .treaty shall fail of ratification it shall ! immediately pass to the parliamentary stage of the committee of the whole.” I The clerks at the desk were al] ; ready to begin calling the roll on this motion when Senator Jones interposed his objection. j The amendment proposed by Senator Gore to provide for a referendum ion the qusetion of the United States participating in any foreign war, was rejected by the vote of 16 to 67.