New-York tribune., 1912-03-08
o,.stic Amendments, Multiplying
Their Purpose. Adopted by
Practically Solid Demo-
cratic Vote.
PRESIDENTS PLANS UPSET
orovision for Joint High Com
mission Stricken out-Monroe
poctrine, immigration and
State Debts Declared
Not Arbitrable.
from The Tribune Bureau. }

From The Tribune Bureau
..h,neton. March THE general
..,ss of arbitration with Great Brit
and France, after being amended by
.,xsoid Democratic vote to such an eX-
40. that they represent a step back
.a rather than forward in the cause
u,ysrsa1 peace. were ratified by the
senate today by a vote OF 16 to 8 Inc
.hr.A opposed were MARITIME, OF New
I.r..,, Lorimer, of Illinois, and Reed'
of Missouri.
The third clause of Article III, which
.o,,ded for the submission Of the ques-
,,on whether or not a controversy was
.rhitrable under the terms OF the treaty
,o,rt high commission, was stricken
o,t NV q vote of ~ TO 40. This amend
..,rt IN which the fight turned, was
...nor,sd BY practically the entire
nsmocratic side and by six Repuo-
ucor senators-Borah, Bourne. Bristow'
D,xor Ioriner and Smith. of Michigan
all bpt Mr. Lorimer being insurgents.
with the third clause of Article III
stricken out. all question Of the power
of the Senate TO pass on the special
ograerents submitting particular ques-
t,ons 10 arbitration was removed, ana
Senator Lodge accordingly withdrew MIS-
resolution and offered in its stead
Of ratification.
Il was thought that the Democrats
would have contented themselves with
thus eliminating the most potent pro-
vision in the treaty for preventing war
hut when this had been accomplished
they went still further. adopting an
amendment to the treaties themselves
specifying that questions relating TO inc
immigration Of aliens into the United
States and their admission into schools
should not be subject TO arbitration
This amendment was presented by SEN
ator Chamberlain, OF oregon, and was
carried by a vote Of 40 10 81.
Exempt Monroe Doctrine.
Still needless of the fact that by str.k-
ing out the clause to which they OBJ
tected the Senate retained the same
power under the pending treaties 1t pos
sesses under the existing treaties OF
arbitration. the Democrats went further
and adopted an amendment to the res
olution Of ratification proposed by SEN
ator Bacon. which excepts from possible
arbitration under the treaties the ques-
tons Of the territorial integrity Of the
several states or Of the United States,
alleged Indebtedness Of any Of the states
the Monroe Doctrine or any other purely
governmental policy. This amendment
was carried by vote Of 46 to 80.
So amended. the resolution of ratifl-
cation was adopted.
Doubt was expressed by Senators that
the mutilated treaties would be ratified
by Great Britain and France even II
President Taft should deem it worth
while to attempt to secure the approval
Of the foreign governments TO the Sem
ate notifications. 1t is more probable
that, for the present, at least, the
treaties will he pigeOn-holed by the ad-
mnistration, with the possibility that an
attempt may be made 10 induce the SEN
ate to reconsider it's action when the po-
ltical storm and stress which led the
Democrats and the Roosevelt supporters
TO make a campaign issue Of them have
passed
The solid opposition Of the Democrats
came as a surprise to the supporters OF
the treaties Only Senators Williams,
Rayner and Thornton on the Democratic
side voted against the amendment strik-
ing out the third clause Of Article III.
Even these Senators did not persist in
their support of the treaties, but Joined
their colleagues in voting for the other
amendments when they were presented.
Differ Little from Existing Treaties.
In the form in which they are ratified
the present arbitration treaties are in
effect. little different from the arbitra-
tion treaties Of 1905 negotiated by Sec
retary Root These except from arbitra-
ton questions affecting the vital in
terests. the independence or the honor
Of the contracting states and all ques-
tons which affect third parties.
The present treaties do not contain this
excepting clause, but limit the scope Of
arbitration to those questions which are
"justiciable in their nature" more
elastic Technology for expressing the
same exceptions. which permits the ex-
tension Of the idea Of arbitration in har-
mony with the development OF interna-
tional law. opening the way to progress
IN the peaceful adjustment Of interna-
tonal controversies.
As prelude to the final vote on the
treaties several remarkable speeches
We're delivered. one by Senator Root. a
plea for The treaties in their unamended
form. remarkable for It's analysis of the
treaties and their effect as "A step for
ward In the movement to eliminate war;
another. by Senator Hitchcock. equally
remarkable for the charge that the treat
les were the result OF personally con-
Quoted cabal by Andrew Carnegie to
nring about an alliance between the
United States and Great Britain. The
senator from Nebraska made this ex-
'raordinary allegation with all the SOL
emnity he could command. and then was
recorded. oil the final vote as favorinR
the ratification OF the agreements.
President Taft to- might. before leaving
washington for his speaking trip to To-