The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-17
FIRST FIST FIGHT
IN SENATE OVER
PEACE TREATY IS
BARELY AVERTED
Lodge and Hitchcock Almost
Come to Blows During
Heated Discussion of
Procedure During
Consideration

Washington, September 10.
Formal reading of the German
peace treaty for amendment
was begun late today in the
Senate after a sharp parliamen.
tary wrangle and demand by
democrats for an avowal from
republican leader Lodge that
the pact would be kept continu-
ously before the body.
1t had not been the intention of the
opponents of the treaty to take it UP
this week, as was indicated by mo-
ton of Senator Smoot, republican, Utah,
to consider other legislation after fonr
hour discussion. Senator Hitchcock, Vt
Nebraska, leader of the administra-
ton forces, insisting the treaty was
emergency business and pointing out
not one line of the document had been
read, drew fire from Senator Lodge by
asking if in all good faith it was his
purpose to expedite consideration.
"My good faith and what 1 In
tend to do is my business" Sena-
tor Lodge replied with feeling, and
the crowds the SalcEy lcAAcu
forward expecting the first fist
fight over the treaty.
Senator Hitchcock, thereupon
again asked Senator Lodge IL he in
tended to carry out his promise and
keep the treaty before the senate.
Senator Lodge, who had been walk
ing back and forth In the chamber
halted quickly when the question
was asked, NJ
~ My do and in my own
way withont assistance from the
senator from Nebraska" he declar-
ed.
The answer was hurled by the sena-
tor with so much emphasis and feeling
that the galleries broke into applause,
which led the discussion to the con-
duct of the crowds coming out daily
to hear it.
VISITORS MUST KEEP MUM
President Pro-Tempore Cummins de-
clared that while visitors had been
permitted to applaud at the end of an
address, in violation of the standing
rules of the Senate, they would not be
permitted to show partisan feeling by
noisy demonstrations. Senator Hitch
cock said the galleries generally were
not aware of the rule UNI Y he'd 1.s.5.
been broken, and Senator WfInamss
democrat, Mississippi insisted the rule
ought to be abolished so that visitors
could give expression of their feelings
The democrats asked for the ayes
take up other business and this was
and nays ON the Smoot motion TO
met from the republican side by the
claim that there was no quorum Be
fore the count was announced SENATOR
Smoot withdrew his motion. and read
ing of the treaty was begun.
The reading clerk struggled man
fully through the preamble, with its
list of all the signatories. difficult TO
pronounce.
The clerk had read through article
three of the league covenant, when he1
reached the amendment of Senator,
republican California, to equalize the
vote of Great Britain and the United
States.
Senator Lodge, who as chairman OF
the foreign relations committee, as in
charge of the treaty. which is being
handled exactly as if it were bill,
asked that the amendment DE passed
over as senators who desired to be
heard were absent.
Senator Hitchcock and senator
Lodge then engaged in another col
loquy, the latter reiterating that ne
would not attempt by artificial means
to delay consideration, but that there
would he "due consideration" so every
hody could be heard. There was no
objection in the end and the amendment
was temporarily passed over.
After the clerk hdu StdTlcu iiieO ~
next ar6cle Senator Lodge stopped the
reading with a motion to adjourn until
Friday.
REED TO SPEAK
Senator Reed, democrat, MISSOURI
rave notice today that he would dis
cuss the treaty then and while formal
reading may continue this week Senator
Lodge said he had promised members
includins two democratic senator's.
49, th.re would be no vote until next
week
All things considered the treaty had vir-
tually full days run, starting OF wltr
a three-hour address by Senator Sner-
\ man. republican, Illinois. 1t was evioeht
that the Senate was in a fighting frame
of mind. for while set speeches heretofore
have been given with nobody interrupting
and a few listening on the floor. as
general rule, Senator Sherman was inter-
rupted today by Senator Hitchcock anc
Senator Walsh, democrat, Colorado, ana
answered by Senator Mcclellan, democrat,
Tennessee.
Senator Mcclellan had delivered
spirited defense of the President, Senator
Lodge calling attention to the President
statement IN an address last night az
Portland, Ore, that the senator in lslo
favored a league of nations, quoted from
more than score of speeches by the
President to show, he said, inconsistencies
on the latters part.
~r0" NH n