New-York tribune., 1919-09-25
Beaten 50 to ID Under Pres
ent Alignment in Senate
and Lodge Forces Refuse
to Call 1t Up for a Test
Edge Offers Substitute
Ratification of Pact With
Reservations, but Without
Amendments, Is Likely
By Carter Field
NeW York Tribune
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Ne,o York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Se,;t. 24.-Thc John
son amendment-giv1ng the United
States an equal vote with the British
Empire in the league of nations as
semby-to- night seems dead. Some
form of reservation, it is thought, may
be substituted for it, despite the often
repeated opinions Of Senators Lodge
borah and others, that no reservation
on this point would be adequate. But
the votes are not available and do
not seem to be within possible reach,
to adopt the amendment itself.
AS the Johnson amendment still is
conceded to be the strongest of the
textual amendments, it was the general
opinion tonight that the treaty would
be ratified with reservations, but with
out amendments.
After an all day conference with the
Republican leaders-Lodge, Brandegee,
Knox, Watson and others-in which he
urged the advantage of taking up his
amendment at once, all Senator John
son could say tonight was that he
would have vote some time on his
amendment, "even if am the only man
to desire it," but he could not say
when his amendment would be brought
up, nor when it would be voted on.
Fight Against Amendment
AS result of the chaotic condition
just when he would start out again on
ms stumping tour against the league
though he was most anxious to get out
TO California as soon as possible.
1t developed to-day that eight Re-
publican Senators would vote against
the johnson amendment. Senator
Edge, Of New Jersey, whose position
has been worrying the friends of the
amendment, to-day proposed a draft OF
a reservation on this question Of the
British Empire having six votes to one
walton were defeated, lie said. he would
vote for the Johnson amendment,
though he preferred the reservation
Senator Hale is another Republican
Senator not hitherto classed with the
mild rcscrvationists who will not vote.
1T was said, for the amendment.
OF the Democratic Senators who hadk
been rather counted on to vote for the
amendment, it Was learned to-day that
Senators Hohe Smith and Ashurst will
vote against it, while Senator Tram
nell, who was mentioned in dispatches
from the Presidents train as being in
the doubtful column on this vote will
probably viote even against reserva-
items.
This leaves apparently the possibility
Of only three Democratic votes for the
amendment those OF Senators Reed,
Gore and Ihomas-aS against eight Re-
publican votes probably against the
amendment. If this lineup stood in
tact the amendment would be beaten,
SO to A.
Senator Frelinehuysen, of New Jer-
scy, while his colleague, Senator Edge.
was drafting reservation to substi-
tute for the Johnson amendment.
made speech, taking the position that
he would vote against the whole treaty
If Article X remained as written and
II the transfer of Shantung to Japan
survived
No Compromise, He Says
There can be no compromise on
Article A,' he declared. "Should it
remain as written, and should the
transfer OF Shantung to Japan survive.
| shall vote against the entire treaty
Article of the league is so radical
departure from our traditions while
the Shantung agreement is SO shock
ing to our standards Of morality that
! am sure they do not meet the ap-
proval Of our people"
Senator Frclinghuysen speech was
frequently interrupted by applause, and
at the conclusion Vice President
Marshall directed the doorkeepers to
eject from the galleries any one seen
applauding.
Some of the Republicans are hoping
that in the time which is now certain
to intervene before any votes on
enough of the eight Republicans now
objecting to the Johnson amendment
may be won around to support it to
make possible its passage This opti-
mistic attitude does not inspire most
of the observers, and certainly, from
his appearance, did not inspire Senator
johnson tonight. He and the Republi-
can leaders with whom he argued for
mat matter seemed amazed at the sud
den turn against the amendment to-
! day.
incidentally, there is much curiosity
as to the text of the Presidents tele-
gram replying to Senator Ashurst' g
warning that he and other Democratic
Senators could not vote against the
johnson amendment.
The Edge Reservation
In his reservation on equality of yot-
ing, as substitute for the johnson
amendment, Senator Edge incorporated
the Presidents own language in a re.
cent speech Following is the text OF
the proposed reservations:
I'm ratifying this treaty and cove
nant. the United States so acts only on
the specific and positive provision that
IN the assignment of six votes to self
governing portions of the British EN-
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