New-York tribune., 1919-11-13
ClOture Rule
Considered to
Speed Treaty
Petitions Are Signed to
Invoke 1t After Ru1nor
That sIrrecOncilables''
Have Begun a FiIibuster
Limiting of Debate
Comes Up To-day

Pact BE Sidetracked
for Railroad Legislation
Ncc York Tribune
Washington, Bureau
WASHINGTON, Nov 12.-Asscrtons
that several Of the "irreconcilable'
foes Of The peace treaty in the Senate
'7crc launching Il tilibuster threw the
treaty situation into tanglc TO- day
ard caused both Democrats and Re-
publicanS to prepare to limit debate
by invoking the cloture rulc.
Senator Lodge, the majority leader.
| SAID tonight, however, he felt con-
f;dent that the situation would be
smoothed out Tomorrow
The "isreconcil ablcs" cmploatically
deny that they have launched a fill
buster, but just as cmphaticaly declare
that they will never consent to Che
cloture The mild rcservationists" in
sist that Senator Reed, Democrat, of
Missouri. and La Toilette, of Wis
consin, and France, of Maryland, Re-
publcans, plan the filbuster, and de-
mand that limit be placed upon de-
bate under threat of breaking away
from the Lodge program. Whether the
clotnre rule will be invoked will be
decided tomorrow. when it will be-
come apparerx-tuhet her there is real
attempt at az susser.
Petition Circulated
Petitions to invoke the cloture rule
have been circulated on both sides
Of the Senate chamber, and have been
signed by many more than the six
teen Senators whose signatures are re-
qured to such petition.
Senators Lenroot, Of Wisconsin; Kel-
logg, of Minnesota, and McNary, of
Oregon, leaders of the group of "mid
reservationists" on the Republican
side, drew petition for cloture and
obtained more than a score of sigma
lures, when Senator Reed, who has
spoken for several hours in the last
three days while the reservation to
Article \ was under consideration,
gave evidence of his intention to speak
for several hours longer.
Senator Underwood, of Alabama.
circulated similar petition among
the Democratic Senators, and quickly
secured thirty-tive signatures on that
side of the chamber. The Democratic
Senator's at the caucus last week de-
cided to ask for the cloture if a filbus-
ter were started. Senator Lenroot said
the Republican petition for a cloturc
would be offered tomorrow unless the
flibustcr were called off.
No Action for Two Days
Under the rules OF the Senate petit
ton for the cloture must lie over for
two days before it can be adopted A
two-thirds vote is required for it's adop-
ton, and then each Senator is limited
TO q total of one hour for discussing
every motion and amendment and the
pending proposition before the Senate.
The rule was adopted in March, 1917.
out has never been invoked although
threats have been made several times
to use it.
The Democrats and the mild reserva-
tionists both had planned to present
their petitions for the cloture too day,
but the Senate adjourned shortly after
it learned o. the death of Senator
Thomas S. Martin, OF Virginia.
Senator Borah, leader of the group
of "irreconciables," said that he did
not believe there was any tilibuster.
He said he was opposed to any lengthy
tion of ratification has been reported
to the Senate. He added that the sir
reconciables" would never agree to
the clOturc.
Threaten to Desert
The 'irreconciiables" notified Sen
ator Lodge that if the cloture we're in
voked they would not support the com
mittee program Of reservations. Their
votes could defeat the reservations,
and then it is thought considerably
more than one-third of the Senate
would vote to reject the unaltered
treaty.
Senator Cummins. chairman of the
Interstate Commerce Committee. an
nounced to-day that he will move to-
morrow to have the peace treaty laid
aside while the Senate takes up rail-
road legislation.
Senator Cummins added that he does
not expect the Senate to lay the treaty
aside, but said that he will make the
effort in order to call attention to the
necessity for immediate action with
regard to the railroads.
Senator Lodge predicted that the
Walsh amendment to the reservation.
which is the pending question before
the Senate, would be defeated, although
three or four Republican "irreconcil-
ables" may vote for it. The Walsh
amendment would remove the United
States from all participation ana Opll-
cation under the treaty Most of the
Lodge said at absolutely destroys
Article X" he added.
The opponents of the treaty gained
vote through Senator Martins death.
Senator Johnson, of California. has
been paired with Senator Martin. and
he will now be able to cast his vote for
ali reservations.
Senator Lodge tonight would not
predict when the Senate would dispose
of the treaty. Republican Leader Mon
dell, ,-of the House, conferred with him
day in an effort 10 have a date for
final adjournment for the session
agreed upon, but Senator Lodge could
not give him any assurances.