The sun., 1919-11-01
HITCHCOCK BLOCKS
TREATY VOTE DATE
Lodge Exposes Democratic In
sincerity by Suggesting
November IL.
WILSON'S WORD AWAITED
Administration Supporters
Afraid to Consent Until White
House Gives Approval.
specsa, Despatch to TIE Sun.

House GlveS Approval.
Special Despatch to TIE SuS.
wAsHrNoroN, Oct. s1.--After week on
week Of strenuously demanding that the
Senate name day to vote on the ratif-
cation of the peace treaty. Senator
Hitchcock (Neb). Democratic leader,
when the same proposal came to-day
from the other side of the chamber, OBJ
jected and made II impossible to reach
agreement that otherwise would have
been in sight
Senator Fall IN. M, one of the most
bitter critics Of the pact, made the pro-
posal, and Senator Lodge (Mass.). Re-
publican leader, promptly gave It his
approval. There was instantly a great
. fiuttering and agitation on the Demo-
cratic side. The Administration forces
were better trained to demanding such
an agreement than to acquiescing In It
As matter Of fact, there was nothing
less than panic among them when the
proposal was pressed. because they dare
not agree to 1t until they hear from the
White House.
Their position is little less than cha
otto They do not know whether the
President wants them to accept the
reservations which the Foreign Rela-
tons Committee has framed or whether
he wants them to make fight against
ratification, defeat the ratification reso-
luton II possible. and then substitute
a milder set of reservations in the hope
OF saving something from the wreck.
Until they get orders from President
Wilson II is impossible for them to
frame plan of campaign.
Completely in the Air.
Democratic Senators for weeks have
protested that they didn't know where
they stood. Their floor leader didn't
know, and nobody seemed to have any
means of sounding the Presidential
mind.
In this dilemma the Democratic lead
ership has adopted the policy of charg-
ing the Republicans with a filibuster,
demanding the fixing of day to vote
and trusting that the insincerity of the
demand would not be exposed. But 1t
was exposed to-day when to the amaze
ment of the Administration forces the
demand came from the other side. The
Administration people were compelled
to show their hand by Directing and
making an agreement impossible.
Senator Hitchcock fairly has baited
the anti-Administration leadership for
weeks with persistent demands for an
early vote. He has painted a pathetic
picture of the heart Of the world being
broken wider and wider open, of chaos
spreading over the face of the deep be-
cause the treaty was not ratified. peace
restored and society given a chance to
get on its feet. He has presented
fearful spectacle of our commercial COM
petitors getting their grip fixed on the
trade Of the Central Empires. while we.
being still In a state Of nominal war.
: were unable to enter the race for bust-
ness.
And then. when he was presented
Unexpectedly with demand that he
consent to fixing date for the final
vote, Or even that he himself fix It. he
objected; he wanted the other side to
present a proposal In writing and let
him examine 1t. He was ready for al
most anything except the simple agree
Jment that would determine when the
vote should be taken.
Lodge Sets a Definite Day.
Later In the day Senator Lodge pre-
scented the proposal in writing. looking
to a final vote on November IL, and
providing, after November s, for lin
itation of speeches to an hour; with the
further limitation, after November 10
TO ten minutes: and for the cessation of
debate and beginning of voting at s
p. NJ, November ~.
When Senator Lodge presented this
proposition and asked that 1t be printed
and lie on the table, Senator Hitchcock,
rs a result Of a series of hurried con-
ferences with his followers, was ready
with counter proposal. But even then
he did not name a date for a vote. He
rA1x bod
ming at once, the Senate limit speeches
to fifteen minutes. meet at IL A NJ
daily. and limit Senators to one speech
on each pending question. But 1t did
not attempt to say when voting should
begin.
Under this plan a filibuster could be
conducted indefinitely, as has been dem
onstrated repeatedly, in the parliament
tary proceedings of both houses Pro
lorna amendments and motions of all
kinds can be interposed to enable speak
ers to resume the floor after the right
on one speech on each question is ex-
hausted consents inevitably are granted
for extension of time. and in short such
an agreement practically is useless for
actually speeding consideration of q
measure.
Awaiting White House Word.
The one procedure that hastens the
end is agreement fixing the time to vote
and that Senator Hitchcock avoided. II
is still necessary for the Administration
forces to keep themselves in position to
delay as long as may be necessary to gel
their orders from Mr.. Wilson
The two proposals were ordered
printed and to lie on the table. They
will come up Monday. and most of the
day probably will be consumed in dis
cussing them. Senator Borah Qdaho)
watched the proceedings closely to-day
prepared to toss wrench into the gears
at any time 1t seemed desirable to pre-
vent agreement, and there was believed
when adjournment came tonight, little
chance of unanimous consent being
reached Monday.
Nevertheless, long step has beer
taken by Senator Lodges proposal nam.
Ing specific day, and the chances OF
the treaty's ratification at this session
looked up. II the Democrats can se,
word from the White House before Mon.
day. and II the irreconcilable opponents
in both parties refrain from irrevocabls
opposition. agreement probably will b.
reached early next week fixing the date
to vote.