The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-17
Lodge Declares in Senate That
League of Nations is
Dead
UNDERWOOD CONTRA
Diets THE STATEMENT
Fight on President Wilson VIII
Continue in Hope CT Partisan
Advantage


Washington, Dec. 1.-THE first
open discussion OF the peace treaty in
the senate at THIS session OF congress
came today during the debate on the
railroad bill.
Senator Lodge, Republican leader,
and Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin,
leader OF the mild reservasionists"
dead" until again submitted by iha
president, and charged the Demo-
Gratis with responsibility for the fail
SIC % i::tiev ii 1T TIC special session.
Su;.;itor Underwood. Democrat. Ala
!,arna. said the treaty could be called
up st any time by 4 majority vote.
and in turn charged the Republicans
the senate to act.
The treaty. debate lasted about an
hour, but without result so far as fu-
ture plans for its disposition are con-
cerned, ard ended with a statement
by Senator Thomas, Democrat, Colo
RADIO. that "both sides having passed
and repassed the back it was time for
The treaty was brought to the fore
when Senator Underwood il demand
ing prompt passage OF the railroad
bill. charged TIE Republicans with
failure 20 enact any substantial leg
islation, and cited defcat OF the treaty
as n Republican ,;.rc!ici'la. Senators
Lodge :rl.,! l.,.!,co"i piolr.pti: ci!;.s-
{;
iuss: ihe Democrats ara responsible f'::.
s,r.:s:.n: :naction on the treaty.
The blame i;a.5 on The Dcmocrdt!c
s.;e and or the PRESIDENT" saiG Ser
ator aLenroot. reviewing the senate,s
procedure on No.cmDe:. 19 and cl.arg-
inG that .'propa eanda exists to hold
he Republicans responsible for :h2
present status. Before the vote or Tie
Lodge resolution Senator Aenroo1 sa"i
tie I;apuhlica3s repeatedly" asked
Senator Hitchcock, WHO was no. pres
ent during today's discussion, 20 .>',s-
t-ca: some counter proposition, bIs
:!::.t none r3lac nor yet has been pre-
Scnted.
Until he. does there IS no way by
which the treaty can be ratified, the
Wisconsin senator addcti.
.-@iiie senator has been trying to Put
the blame for the whole treaty sit;!a-
ton on this SIDE" said III. Underwood
replying. lie cast Gu that. The
,oul1-rH Will ncre,. 7: ccivc ;ae a-su-
,:lent. The treaty IS living the vice
-,r":;itic:it's l;t)i" 3nd Il majority OF
nc senate can take it up at any time. :
.',Tha treaty is not before US. Sem
ator Lodge intcrjectcd. 1t can't be
tajtcn up. The senate has orcrru!cd
three tim. $ he proposition The s.na-
tc:. from -a,abam pata forth. 1t con-
trAeencS every precedent :til(; every
principle OF parliamentary procedure.
Denying Mr.. Lodges assertions
Senator Underwood said the only
ti,:l:e disposed OF was the proposed
resolutions Of ratification, aud con-
tended that the trcat- Itself still is
pending.
4 know" Senator Underwood con-
tinueG. that as long rs the majority
on that Nrepuhlicam side say the
treaty is dead, it is dead temporarily
because NOBODY c1i 40 :.llNlil.US Will
it Lccause a majority WON'T vote TO
take it up. Dut if tho majority de
sired to rcsulrect The treaty we
could do il.
The president can withdraw an2
rc&lbmit, IL the same day" Senator
Loag" interiected
And Tie senate also can tell the
president that The. treaty IS dead.' Mr..
Underwood counIercd. Il think it is
proper for the majority 10 notify the
president, which i:as not been done"
Senator Bnrah. declaring he viewed
the ;i.caty's death" with extreme sat
:sfaction, entered into the debate 70
say:
II trust sincerely that it IS dead ana
kat ii Will stay DEAF. It's about the
best thing the senate has done in -
years. and if it Cid nothing else bu;
ill that treaty it would be entitled
70 qualification OF the American peo-
pic for ali time to come