The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-11
MAJORITY OF 2
VOTES COUNTED
UPON IN SENATE
4 Democrats Favor Grant
ing U. S. Equal Strength
With Britain.
SHANTUNG ACTION. NEAR
Amendment to Come Up
Wednesday and Remain I'm
til Ballot Is Taken.
SHANTUNG ACTION. NEAR
Special Despatch to The suS.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-Despite the
strong propaganda being carried on
| against amendments to the League of
Nations covenant there is abundant
evidence now that at least one of the
amendments will carry, the Johnson
amendment to equalize the voting
strength OF the United States and the
British Empire with its autonomous
colonies.
Desperate efforts still are being
made to defeat this amendment, con-
cededly the strongest of any suggested
textual changes. The coming vote on
the Johnson amendment has been dag
nosed as so close that the ninety-six
Senators would be evenly divided and
| the Vice President then would cast the
| deciding ballot.
To take the place of the johnson
amendment it was suggested that a
! reservation having the same effect
should be proposed. This is now be-
lieved by a great many Senators to be
impossible, and recourse is being had
again to the amendment form of cor
recting this particular evil in the
league document.
Lenroot Alternative May Fail.
An amendment has been proposed by
/ Senator Lenroot (Wis.) which would
provide that the United States should
not be bound in any matters having to
I a laa- t.,.,
| with its colonies or possessions cast a
greater vote than did the United States
The Lenroot substitute has served to
+, clarity the situation. 1t is now believed
| that the Lenroot suggestion will be
beaten and after its rejection the orig
| inal Johnson amendment will carry, four
/ Republicans voting against 1t, four
Democrats for 1t, thus insuring its adop-
ton by a majority OF two votes.
Senator Hitchcock (Neb) despite vhis
| confidence on the part of anti-leagders
/ scoffed at the idea that the johnson
amendment would be adopted. He in
| sisted it would be defeated by five votes.
but did not venture to name the Repub-
| lican Senators upon whom he counts to
help him.
| The Senate, at the suggestion of Mr..
Lodge (Mass.), the Republican leader
at last reached an agreement which
| should speed up consideration OF the
! league and the treaty. II was agreed
| that the Shantung amendment shall be
taken up Wednesday next and kept be-
! fore the Senate until vote is taken.
Lodge to BE Heard Next.
| Senator Norris (Neb.) will conclude
his speech on Shantung tomorrow, and
will be followed by Senator Lodge, who
will speak on the same subject.
Part OF to-day's session was given
over TO discussion by Senator Spencer
! tMo) OF the action OF the Missouri Re-
| publican State Central Committee, which
adopted resolutions asking him to sup
port the Lodge series Of reservations
and amendments. He said: The ac-
| tion of the committee is both welcome
and helpful. l am glad TO get It, The
committee is composed not only of men
! chosen as leaders of our party, but men
In whose judgment / have great conf
dence and for whom personally l have
warm friendship.
'I have not yet received the resolu-
tions, but my information regarding
+, them is that their general purpose Is to
insist that the treaty in its present form
ought not to be ratified, and with this
am, as have been since I~first learned
of its provisions. In entire agreement.
"The treaty Of peace, including the
is dangerous to our American rights,
which are dear to every one OF us, and
never ought TO be ratified by the Senate
as Ii is written, In my Judgment 1t
never can be ratified by the Senate and
certainly not by my vote unless our own
American rights are absolutely protected
and our independence of action as a
nation is entirely safeguarded.
I'VE never can approve the infamous
! provisions with regard to Shantung,
nor can we recognize the right of Great
Britain, together with all her colonies,
TO have six times as many representa-
tives in the assembly as the United
States has"
A reservation TO Article XXIII by
Senator Curtis, Republican, (Kan.), in
troduced to-day. declared refusal OF the
United States to recognizes agreements
concerning traffic In women. Senator
Curtiss reservation construes sub-divi-
sion "C' of Article XNIII. to mean that
the league shall use every means pos
sible to abolish the traffic.