Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-10-28
PROPOSED
BY HI JOHNSON
IN PEACE TREATY
IS SHOWED UNDE R
Amendment to Make Voting.
Power of u, S. Equal to.
That of Great Britain Is Re-
ieCted By the Senate,
ACTION TAKEN DURING
LUlL IN THE DEBATE
Vote Is Taken Unexpectedly
While Several Senators
With Prepared Speeches Are
Absent From the Chamber,

Absent From the Chamber
MORNING JouPNAL sPEctAL LHAsuo w,swl
Washington, Oct. 27--The John
SON amendment to the peace treaty,
designed to equalize American and
British voting strength in the league
of nations, was rejected in the sem
ate today by vote of 3S to 40.
On the roll call, which came un-
bate, two democrats joined the re-
publicans supporting the amendment
and nine republicans voted with the
democrats against It. OF eighteen
senators absent or paired, four re
publicans and two democrats were
recorded as favoring II and twelve
democrats as opposing it.
The senate then took up the Moses
amendment on the same subject, the
last survivor of forty-six recommend
ed by the foreign relations commit
tee, Over the opposition of the ad-
ministration leaders action on this
measure was postponed, the senate
adopting. 43 to 36, Republican Lead
er Lodges motion for a recess until
tomorrow.
When the senate met, the leaders
had not hoped for a vote before to-
morrow, but after a rambling debate
of an hour and a half, during which
nearly every current subject except
the league had been discussed, 1t
was decided not to wait on the
senators who had announced they
would speak on the amendment this
week. When Democratic Leader
Hitchcock asked that time be set
for roll call during the afternoon,
Mr. Lodge replied he saw no reason
why the vote should not be taken
at once.
Democrats Are Surprised.
The suddenness with which the
roll call began apparently took the
administration forces by surprise and
although they had counted on a ma
jority of six or eight, so many SEN
ators were absent that a sigh of re-
lief went VT fss sthc democratic
side when the result wax announced.
1t was by far the narroWest margin
by which any of the committee
had been defeated.
During the remainder of the day
speeches supporting the Moses
were made by Senators
Sherman, Illinois, Mccormick, Illi-
nois; Knox, Pennsylvania, and Wat
son, Indiana, all republicans
Senators Hitchcock and McCum-
ber republican, North Dakota, OPP
posed it.
Senator Knox, former secretary
of state, declared the preponderance
of British representation in the
league was mot calculated to foster
understanding" among the
English speaking peoples and denied
that to amend the treaty would lead
to prolonged negotiations, or shut
off this country from the benefits of
peace. Full official relations could
be e-established with Germany, he
declared as soon as the treaty had
been ratified by three allied powers
and Germany.
Senator Hitchcock opposed the
as unnecessary and like
ly to endanger the whole treaty,
while Senator McCumber said he
was in accord with its principle but
that the same object could be ac-
by reservation. Senator
Sherman attacked the treaty in de-
tail and Senator Mccormick quoted
from Theodore Roosevelt to support
a plea for the preservation of ma
tionalism.
Charging Senator Hitchcock with
Senator Watson quoted
declarations of the democratic leader
opposing an arbitration treaty nego-
tiated with Great Britain in 1912. |
At that time, said Mr.. Watson, SEN
ator Hitchcock opposed entangling
alliances and was fearful that even
even an arbitration treaty would !
foster British domination over this
Senator Lodges motion to recess
was made after the senate had been |
IN session for nearly seven hours, |
md Senator Hitchcock declaring he |
saw no reason why vote should |
not be taken, demanded a record |
vote on the recess motion. The re- |
suit was a strict party vote with
he exception of Senator Shields, |
democrat, of Tennessee, who voted |
With the republicans for a recess
Senator Knox said that regardless
Of the action of other parties, the |
peace terms would stand as they We're
written for the nations first ratifying
and for Germany. Under the treaty |
language, too, he continued, the ma
tions not ratifying could resume on
the date the treaty went into force
heir official relations with Germany. |
Should the United States desire 10
derive other benefits besides the re-
sumption Of official relations with |
Germany, said the Pennsylvania sem |
ator it then would be necessary for II |
ratify the treaty. He cited several
to support his position and
added that in the present case
burdens are our sole treaty herit- |
age" so there would be little lost. To |
talk of the United States having to go
10 Germany with hat in hand" and |
ask acceptance of amendments, Sena- |
.or Knox said, was absurd.