New-York tribune., 1919-09-17
Formal Reading of Pact
Begun, However, Over
ReservatiOnists Protest:
Democrats Are Elated
Wilson Men Claim
Foes Lack Strength
Lodge Angrily Resents
Minority Leader Ques-
tioning His Good Faith
BY Carter Field
NeD York TribuD.e
WdstrrCtor Eu rTu

Washington Ef
WASHINGTON, Sept 16.-Adminis-
tration Leader Hitchcock seized the
offensive in the peace treaty fight To-
day. putting the Republicans in DIS
tinctly disadvantageous position ana
scoring what might be called the first
blood of the fight.
Mr. Hitchcock forced the start cf the
formal reading Of the treaty fer
amendments. which the Republicans
did not desire for at least another
weak, and put Republican Leader
Lodge in the position of asking that
the vote on the first amendment go
over. Further. he forced Senator
Lodge TO admit that he was not
yet ready for vote on this amend
ment. After this admission Mr Tlitci3
cock agreed to give unanimous .onsen.
for it to be temporarily passed over.
having made 1t very clear thas the
opponents OF the treaty did not wan.
vote at this time
Democrats Jubilant
night. pointing out that the country
would be shown by to-days perform
ance that the Republicans did not have
the votes at this time to pat over ovcA
the strongest o. Their texjaa! ;,4ead-
ments-that giving the United States
an equal vote in the league assombir
with the British Empire.
Mr.. Hitchcock failed, howevcr. II
gain assurance that the vote would be
forced on the equality Of voting
amendment, as the johnson amend
ment is called, before the Republican
leaders desired it. Senator Lodge told
Mr.. Hitchcock fatty that if Mr.. Hitch
cock wanted to object to it being passed
over Senator Lodge would take meas
ures 10 prevent the vote being reached.
but that these measures would mean
delay for the treaty and the .resoonsi-
hlity for the delay would rest on Mr.
Hitchcock.
The Senator viii not save time III
hurrying me all the time" said Sen
,ltor Lodge.
Smoot Opens Fight
Senator Smoot started the parlie-
mentary battle over the treaty by "a
tempting to have the water power bill
taken up for the remainder OF the
afternoon. it then being about 4:3o
o'flock Senator Hitchcock insisted
that the consideration Of the treaty
should 90 on.
81 want to know if the Senator from
Massachusetts tMr. Lodge Is going to
keep his good faith and keep this
treaty before the Senate until it is
disposed Of" insisted MI Hitchcock.
"My good faith and what | intend
to do are my business" retorted Scna-
tor Lodge.
Mr.. Hitchcock again appealed 10 SEN
ator Smoot not to press the water
power bin now, saying that it was i'm
portant TO have the treaty read and
get that much out OF the way. Mr.
Lodge suggested the absence Of A
quorum and sometdifficulty was expert
enced in raising fifty Senator's.
After quorum was obtained, MIR.
Hitchcock again demanded to know if
Mr.. Lodge intended to keep good
faith"
Lodge Retorts Angrily
Il certainly do" said Senator LODGE
angrily, "but | shall do it in ray own
way and without any advice from the
Senator from Nebraska"
This brought a storm of applause
from the galleries. Mr.. Hitchcock in
sisted that the rule should be en-
forced, and that cards stating the rule
against applause should be handed
every one upon entering the galleries.
Then we would avoid this occasional
annoyance" Mr.. Hitchcock concluded.
Mr.. Smoot pointed out that people
from all over the South were dropping
into the galleries, and naturally would
not be familiar with the rules.
"Oh, ! don't agree with either Sens-
tor brokc IN senator Williams. Il
think the galleries have been packed
+ with the same crowd for some time
now This was an alusion to the
fact that the galleries have been an
plauding a anti-league speeches ard
virtually 70 pro-league speeches for
more thant4wo months. Mr.. Williams
asserted, however, that he was opposed
to the rule against applause. and