Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-18
HITCHCOCK CALLS
CAUCUS TO SELECT
MINORITY LEADER
Opponent of Underwood for
Late T. S. Martins Place
Criticised for Act.

A call for a conference of demo-
cratic senator's Saturday to select a
leader to succeed the late Senator
Martin of Virginia was issued today
by Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska.
who is contesting with Senator Tn
derwood of Alabama for the place.
settlement Of the contest between
Senator Hitchcock. who led the ad
ministration forces in the German
wood. who formerly was the demo-
cratic leader of the House, and a
candidate for a presidential nomina-
ton in 1912 at Baltimore, is the only
business to come before the confer
ence The outcome was said to be in
doubt. with very close vote pre-
: dcted.
Vote May Be Postponed.
i Friends of Senator Underwood init
mated today that they may endeavor
at Saturdays conference to POSTPONE
a vote until after the holidays, when
the full democratic membership, in
Guiding Secretary Glass as the sue
cessor of Senator Martin from Vir-
ginia, is expected to be present Sup
porters. of Senator Underwood are
! said to desire disposition of the treaty
before the leadership is settled. in
order thar the question of indorsing
Senator Hltchcock'S management of
/ the treaty might not be an issue in
the vote for leader.
The action of Senator Hitchcock
who now is vice chairman of the DEM
ocratic conference, in issuing todays
call was taken by his friends to indi-
cate that he feels confident of having
enough pledged votes to insure his
election. although considera BILE num-
Der of democratic senators are not in
the city.
Has Bearing on Treaty.
The minority leadership contest, &C
cording to democratic senators, has
, considerable bearing on the Versailles
treaty controversy. and particularly
it's immediate outcome. Senators
/ Hitchcock and Underwood have diff
fered regarding future procedure, the
former opposing and latter agreeing
; to accept as last alternative the
plan of Senator Knox. republican.
Pennsylvania, to ratify the peace
terms of the treaty, excepting the
league of nations.
Mr.. Hitchcock Criticized.
Some of Senator Underwood's
friends were outspoken in critising
Senator Hitchcock's call
Its an outrage" said Senator Har-
rison of Mississippi. who has been ac-
tive in behalf of the Alabama sena-
tor. Up to now Hitchcock forces
have been urging that the conference
be postponed until after the treaty
is settled and also until more demo-
cratic senators are in town. There
are half dozen of Mr.. Underworld
friends absent now who cannot be
got back in time with this notice
of only forty-eight hours"
Senator Underwood's friends agreed
however. that Senator Hitchcock. by
virtue of his rank as the senior demo-
crat of the foreign relations commit
tee, would remain in charge of the
treaty contest on the minority side
even if Mr.. Underwood sshould be
elected.
1t has>been said at the White House
that. irrespective of the outcome of
the leadership contest, Senator Hitch
COCK wiIi continue as the administra-
Because of the absence of several
democratic members, few Senator's
who are reported pledged to vote for
Senator Hitchcock. stated TODAY that
they would join with Mr.. Underwood's
friends in endeavoring to put over the
vote until the Senate reconvenes in
January. 'A'