The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-07
UNDERWOOD MEETS
CHALLENGE WITH
REQUEST FOR AN
I'M NJ ED|ATE VOTE
Move Fails to Meet Approval
of Some Senators, How
ever, and Situation at
End of Session Much
Same as Beginning
BY Associated Press

Washington, November g.
Whether to ratify the treaty
with Germany without reserva-
tions or amendments seemed
for while this afternoon
about to be decided by the
Senate.
Thrown into the thick of a dramatic
parliamentary battle, a request for an
immediate showdown on unqualified &C
ceptance of the treaty got the backing
of the leaders on both sides, who seemed
anxious to Guido each other in pressing
for a rollcall. But before the stage OF
action was reached the move was blocked
by republican senators who objected that
it might cut off any later attempt to put
reservations into the ratification.
Then the Senate got back to its regu-
lar order of business and having voted
down the last of the long list of proposed
amendments, began work on the reserVa-
lions presented by the foreign relations
committee, said to have the backing OF a,
majority of the senator's When recess
was taken until tomorrow the first of the
il committee proposals had not yet come
to a vote.
POINT OF ORDER OVERRULED
The reservations got before the Senate
only after a point of order against them
lad been overruled by Vice PRESIDENT
Marshall who declared no technicalities
Of the Senate rules would be permitted
to stand in the way of the right of the
Senate majority to frame it's ratification
of the treaty as 1t chose. The ruling.
which followed an hour of bitter argu-
ment, was accepted as containing sig
rificant declaration of policy with respect
to the parliamentary tangie ueVeioplAs
around the treaty.
Leaders were as much at sea tonight as
ever as to the date when the final vote
on the treaty might be reached, Dut they
declared every effort would be made 70
hasten the reservation debate. Demo-
cratic senators, at an evening conference,
threshed over the whole situation and
sought some method of bringing the long
fight quickly to a conclusion.
CONFERENCE PLANNED
Meanwhile White House officials re-
yealed that plans were on foot for an
early conference between President Will
son and Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska,
the democratic leader, regarding the Sem
ate situation. 1t was said at the capitol
tonight, however, that no such appoint
ment yet had been made or requested by
Mr. Hitchcock who thought several days
might elapse before the reservation fight
became acute.
The furry over an immediate vote on
unreserved ratification came just after
the Senate had voted down, 81 to 10, the
amendment by Senator Gore. democrat,
Oklahoma to make any declaration OF
war under the league of nations contin-
gent on a popular referendum. Two more
amendments had been prepared by SEN
ator Borah. republican, Idaho, but he de-
eided to withhold them and offer them
later as reservations. That cleared away
the last of the amendments, and Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts, the republican
leader, called up the committee reserva
lions.
UNDERWOOD CALLS HAND
Immediate objection came from the adj
ministration forces Senator Underwood,
democrat, Alabama, declaring the pro-
posals could not properly be considered
until the resolution of ratification came
before the Senate. He was assailing the
republicans for delay and charging that
their methods were designed to prevent
direct vote the question of unre-
served ratification, when Senator Lodge
asked
~If the senator wants to hasten
action, why doesn't he ask for
vote right now ON ratification with
out reservntion:"
sI1l do it, returned Senator I'm
derwOod, and he did.
The move brought half dozen sem
ators to their feet and in the maneuver-
ing which followed the chamber pre-
scented a scene of continuous confusion.
Senator Hitchcock first got the floor
to present formally unanimous con-
sent for a vote. and although the re-
publican managers interposed no OBJ
lection, it failed to meet the approval
of some senators and a sharp debate
ensued.
GENERAL TANGLE
Senator Fall. republican, New Mexico
objected that the parliamentary situa-
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