The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-14
Strive to Prevent Express
sion by Senate AS to y.
S. Participation.
LOOK TO WILSON
Expect President t o
Weld Influence to Eff
feet Acceptance of Cow
enant as Part of Treaty.
BY James r. Nourse.

BY James r. Nourse
Washington. June i3.--With the
Republicans striving to obtain a test
vote in the senate on the league of ma
tons issue. Democratic senators in
conference today decided to do every
thing in their power to prevent such
vote being taken.
No expression by the senate nor by
the people of the United States as to
the advisabIiity or desirahIlity or
American entrance into the league viii
be permitted if the Democrats in the
senate cap help il. They count upon
the return OF President Wilson from
abroad and the welding of his in
auence TO bring about acceptance Of
the league covenant as an integral
part 7of the peace treaty.
The Democrats agreed TO concen-
trate their fire on the Knox resolution
which Proposes that ratification of the
league should be postponed until the
people of the United States have been
given. aIs appartuustH-to ssyy41.h eAhAs,
OF not they want 1t. An organized
flibuster will be their method of at
tack.
No vote that would record the ser
timent of the senate on this question
pf.l he Ia ken * the Democrats have
their
Advocsjes Of the league fear the
effect that such vote might have
upon the people concerning the league
question. They will seek mol. os'iy TO
defeat the Knox resolution bas 70
keep any subsidiary motion relating to
IL from coming to a vote. They assert
they will have the full Democratic
strength in the senate with the excep-
ton Of Senator James A. Reed of
Missouri and will get the votes OF
eight or nine Republicans besides
Republican leaders dispute this and
maintain that not more than four Re-
nublieans win desert them in the bat
four named AS doubtful are McNary,
Of Oregon. Norris. Of Nebraska: Colt
NJ Rhode Island. and McCumber. of
North Dakota. /; is practically GER
tain that McCumber will vote with the
Democrats, while McNary and Norris
are known TO be opposed 10 the reso-
0tior, hut only lukewarm in their
support of the league
LEAN TOWARD REPUBLICANS
The Republicans have also received
assurances that they will get the
votes OF at least Ave Democrats. Reed.
OF Missouri. Gore. OF oklahoma.
Thomas, of Colorado. Myers, of Mon
tana, and Chamberlain, Of OREGON, are
publican side.
they will regard as a test OF the senti-
ment in the senate any vote which
they may be able to get on any phase
Of the question. A vote 10 take the
resolution from the calendar and
make X the business before the SEN
ate will be considered in the light of
a test: a vote to close debate and
put the resolution to a final roll call
would be test: a motion to amend IL
or Law il 'on the table would be con-
ssdered test. This Ia the reason
why the Democrats are resolved to
permit no vote Of any kind TO he
taken.
The conference of the Democrats
was called by Senator Hitchcock Of
Nebraska and nothing was considered
except plans for lighting the Knox
resolution. A tentative list of speak
ers was prepared and the length Of
time each Senator will speak In the
organized filihuster Is being allotted
Senator Hitchcock told the newspaper
men that the conference had decided
10 submit the resolution to "a
thorough discussion" He denied that
II would be filibuster. and said that
announcement to this effect VIII be
made in the senate when the discus
sion begins
DEMOCRATS UNAFRAID.
It Is not true that the Democrats are
afraid to have the resolution to come
TO a vote Senator Hitchcock said. AS
a matter of fact we would like 10
have II voted upon. for we feel conf
dent that it would he defeated. We
can count upon the vote of every
Democratic senator except Senator
Reed and will get also the votes OF
eight or nine Republicans. OF this we
are certain. But we are determined
not to allow the resolution 10 be voted
on because such a vote would only be
an embarrassment TO the peace con-
ference"
Have you had any word from the
president regarding the Knox resolu-
tom" was asked
mo. we do not expect any" Senator
Hitchcock replied. This is not a
sight in which the president would be
very much interested II is a fight
within the senate itself TO find out
whether the senate is willing to ad-
vertise itself to the world as propos-
ing such an Interference with the
covers of the peace conference. The
dignity OF the senate is at stake and
on that issue the president Is not like
" to take any part"
Senator Hitchcock had conference
with Acting Secretary Polk of the
state department and David Hunt Mil
Ter, who was a technical adviser to
the American peace delegation. This
conference took place before the
Democrats were called together. 1t
IL understood that Senator Hitchcock
was advised by the officials that pas
sage OF the resolution would be very
embarrassing to the peace delegation
1t this time.
II IL not at all certain that the fight
On the resolution will open next Tues
aay as previously announced. Several
81 the Republican leaders canvassed
he situation today and suggested that
the pressing needs of the appropria-
Ion measures made 1t advisable to
(Continued on Page rwo.)