Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-07
OBJECTION HALTS
VOTE ON TREATY
1t Prevents Roll Call on Hitch
cocks Motion to Rat
ify Pact.
CONFERENCE AT WHITE HOUSE
Lodge Serves Notice Reserva-
tions Must Be Made to
Document.
CONFERENCE AT WHITE HOUSE
ny JAMES II. NouRsE.

"AolilNGlCN, Nov. 6.-The. Senate
was very close today to vote on
ratification of the treaty without any
reservations or amendments. An OBJ
lection made by Senator Jones. Re-
publican. OF Washington, was all that
prevented the roll from being called
on motion By Senator Hitchcock, the
administration leader. to accept the
treaty just as it was brought from
Paris by President Wilson.
Had such 4 vote been taken the
treaty would have been rejected, in
tie opinion OF Senators on both sides
Practically all OF the forty-eight Re-
puelicans who are pledged TO Senator
Lodges program Of reservations would
have voted against ratification, as
would more than a dozen on the Demo-
cratic side. who are unwilling to vote
10 ratify the treaty until substantial
reservations have made
Thus the objection offered by Sem
ator Jones not only brought relief 10
those Republicans who hope TO see the
treaty in some form ratified, but It
saved Senator Hitchcock and the other
administration followers from an i'm
passe from which II would have been
difficult for them 10 extricate them
selves once the Hitchcock motion had
been defeated. Nothing but motion
70 reconsider the vote would have suf-
feed 10 resuscitate the treaty IL ratt-
hcation had been voted down.
Motion Comes Ms Climax.
Senator Hitchcocks motion came as
the climax to long parliamentary
wrangle over the question of procedure
after Senator Lodge had submitted to
the Senate the program of reserya tions
agreed upon by the majority members
OF the Foreign Relations Cpnmittea
The offering OF the motion sauseG a
great commotion on the floor, as Sen.
atos W6as Ea.nered hai1 In groups to discuss
6ers of the House in large numbers
fiocked into the Senate chamber ir
ANTICIPATION OF witnessing the taking
OF the vote. Blu, Senato. Jones OBJ
their end of the capitol.
Following his failure to obtain a
vote. Senator Hitchcock announced that
f1 ne hSd an appointment at the White
tton with the President. 1t is expect ed
that the President viii go, over the
Hitchcock. and through him, advise the
administrative Senators whether or
not they should vote TO reject the
treaty II the majority under Senator
Lodges leadership succeeds in putin 2
the reservations on To the resolution
OF ratification.
Trcaty's Fate in Balance.
The fate Of the treaty. therefore. may
word that comes from the Presidents
conference with the administration
leaders.
The Democratic Senators met in con-
ference tonight TO discuss their course
OF action and TO draft n series of reser-
vations VIII 'ch they will offer as sub
Lodge. 1t was frankly acknowledged
by Senator'S Hitchcock and Underwood
during todays debate that ratification
canno, be accompiished d. With this
firmly in their minds, the Democratic
Senators intend to have ready some
hope will command the support of
Senator'S on their own side and some
OF the m Id reservation!sts" among
Senator Lodge went further in ad-
visins the Democrats that if the resolu-
ton Of ratification with reservations
Hmaootrity HnnStr.ry ia Ia Is. the adminissration n
the delay OF death" The treaty can
not be ratified any other way than by
acceptance OF the majority reserva-
tions4 Senior Lodge said:
Charge" Made by Underwood.
administration forces, Senator Under
wood, Democrat Alabama. declaring
the proposals could not properly be
considered until the resolution of rati-
hcation came before the Senate. He
was assailing the Republicans for de-
lay and charging that their methods
were designed to prevent a direct vote
on the question of unrcserved ratifi-
cation: when Senator Lodge asked:
IF the Senator wants TO hasten ac-
tion, WHY doesn't he ask for a vote
right now on ratification without res
ervations?"
"Ill do it," returned Senator Under
wood, and he did.
The move brought half dozen SEN
ators to their feet and In the ma
neuvering which followed the chamber
presented a scene Of continuous con.
fusion. Senator Hitchcock first got
the floor to present formally unani-
nous consent agreement for vote
and although tile Republican managers
interposed no objection. it failed tc
meet the approval Of some Senators.
When Senator Hitchcock first pre-
sented his motion for an immediate
vote on ratification without reserva-
tions. Senator Fall, OF New Mexico
objected. because he said the procedure
was not regular. He warned the ad.
ministration members that they were
playing with fire, adding:
IF two-thirds of the Senators fai
to vote for this motion tho treaty Is
dead forever"
Senator Alters Request.
Senator Hitchcock thercupon altered
his request to the following:
ut is agreed by unanimous consent
that the Senate will Immediately pass
to the parliamentary stage of the Sen.
ate and shall vote upon the following
resolution:
Resolved, two-thirds Of the Sena.
tors present and voting concurrinr
therein. that the Senate advises ant
consents to tie ratification of the
treaty OF peace with Germany signed
ut Versailles. France. June 2S, 19l9.'
And It Is further agreed t-,at i
the treaty shall fail Of ratification 4
| shall Immediately pass to the parlia
mentary stage OF the committee O
| the whole
The clerks at the desk were all read,
to begin calling the roll on tho motion
lContinued ON Second PaRcl