Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-11-13
SHUT OFF talk
On Treaty to Stop In
cipient Filbuster
Two Petitions 70 invoke cIoture
Rule to Be Submitted Today
Would Limit Each Senator'S Talk
to an Hour in All Until HatiFica-
ton is Reached


Washington, Nov. 1a-Summarv ac-
ton TO choke down debate On the
peace treaty was DECIDED on by the
treary's friends in the Senate today
to meet developments regarded by
many senators as the beginning of
a nlibnster against ratification.
Two petitions 70 invoke the Sen
ate's cloture rule. which never mere
uo1ore has been used. were prepared
for submission tomorrow should il
become apparent that dilia1ory tao
TICS have been adopted by the group
irreconcilahiy opposed to the treaty,
The first petition was drawn by the
Democrats and the other was being
formulated tonight by the mild res
ervation group Of Republicans.
Cnoer the rule, which could he
modified beginning Saturday by a
Jwo-ttllrds vote. no senator can speak
more than one hour IN all until
No specific time can De set. under
the provision. for such 4 vote. bu;
the leaders predicted that il would
force final action, II rescrted 10,
early mex! week.
To hasten the treaty further. il was
tentatively agreed to hold night SEES
sions Of the Senate beginning tomor
row night and continuing. until there
mas been u ratification vote.
The movement for cloture was
started after Senator Feed, Demo
crat. Missouri, had launched IN 10
another long speech attacking the
treaty and Senators Lafollette. Wis
consin. and France. Maryland. Re
pubiicans, had indicated they were
ready TO continue The fight as soon
as the Missouri senator concluded
Senator Reed occupied all Of today's
t.1r'ee-hour session and intimated al
Adjournment that he would continue
for several hours tomorrow.
Suspectlng that the long antlcipat-
ed fillbuster was on. Senators Hitch
cock and Underwood circulated on
the Democratic side a petition for
the is signatures needed
The Republicans acted more slow
lT the mild reservation group being
fearful Of alternating the irreconcila-
hieS, N whose votes they are count
rIiE for a safe majority 70 put over
The reservation program Of the for
eIgn relations committee Late IN the
day. however, Senator Hale of Maine.
one Of the mild reservation Republi-
cans. passed around a petition and
got the requisite number of signers
Although processing 10 be ANXIOUS
for he debate 10 END, and predicting
that The necessary two-3irds could
be mustered for clorure, Republican
Leader Lodge sand ne desired 10 take
no part in the move
PtanS Of ne democrats 70 present
their petition todav We're abandon
ed when II was decided Ia adjourn
early because Of the death Of SEN
ator Martin of Virginia Whether
they would do SO tomorrow was NOT
cleared some Of the leaders indicat
ing that il might depend IN the
Course If developments during the
day s debate. on the republican side
i was said the petition Of The mild
reservationlsts would ne put in only
I action were unduly DELAYED
Lnder the cloture rule j vote on
limiting debate cannot be taken IN
II two days after submission of 4
petition. SO that the limitation could
not ne made effective until Saturda !,
There was some speculation as 70
the possible effect Of Senator Mar
TIN s death on the treaty fight. but
he general opinion was that i
would not effect il considerably
The Virginia senator has been ab-
sent most Of the session ana has
taken no active part n the contro-
versy. Should d democrat hostile ia
The treaty ne appointed 70 succeed
him. the administration senator's say
the only result will be 10 decrease ~
one their minority against reserva-
lions.