Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-20
Democrats Almost Solid.

Democrats Almost Solid.
Two of the three ratification votes
were taken on the resolution drafted
by the republican majority, contain
ing reservations which President
Wilson had told democratic senator's
in letter earlier in the day would
mean nullihcation of the treaty. On
each Of the votes most of the demo-
cratic supporters of the treaty voted
against ratification.
The first vote on this resolution
stood 80 for to S. against. On the
second vote taken after several
hours of parliamentary wrangling
in which the democrats made vain
efforts to win over some of the re-
publican group of mild reservation
lists, Al senators, voted in the affirma-
tive and 81 in the negative.
The third vote was on a straight
out ratification without reservations
which got only So votes to So oppos-
ing it. Only one republican, Sena-
tor McCumber, North Dakota, voted
with the democrats in its support
Final Decision.
Republican Leader Lodge de-
clared today's voting constituted a
final decision on the peace treaty
unless President Wilson circum-
vented, the senate rules by with
drawing it and then submitting t
again to the senate. In other quar-
tiers there was some difference OF
opinion, but the general sentiment
seemed to be that there was only
slender chance that the treaty would
come up at the beginning of the
next session of congress, beginning
next month.
One effect of the senate's failure
to ratify the treaty will be the cou-
tinuation of various wartime laws
and regulations at least until the
new session opens. Among them is
the wartime prohibition act.
Expect Another Fight.
The resolution presented tonight
to declare a state of peace will come
up at the beginning of the new ses-
sion and is expected to start an-
other stubborn fight. The admins
tration is understood to be opposed
to such a method of legally ending
the war and in the background is a
constitutional question as to wheth-
er congress can do so by a reso-
luton not requiring the presidents
signature.
1t was suggested among demo-
cratic senator's that President Will
son might be asked to feel out the
other powers as to their attitude on
reservations with the idea of bring
ing the treaty to some sort of a
ratification after congress reassem-
bles."
+ The SECOND vote on the majority's
ratification resolution was made
possible blythe mild 'reservationists.
who voted with the democrats to
get the measure before the senate
and thus give an opportunity for
any eleventh hour compromise prop
osition. Once that had been accom-
plished, however, the mild group
held out against all efforts Of the
democrats to put in their substitute
reservations, so that when the sec
ond vote was reached, after several
hours of sparring, the situation vir-
tually was unchanged.
Consideration Cut Short.
The resolution for ratification
without reservations was put in by
Senator Underwood, democrat, Ala
bama, after the second defeat of the
other measure. 1t was held in order
and voted upon without debate, but
when Senator \Pittman, democrat.
Nevada, sought to get action on an
other resolution containing interpre-
tative reservations the treaty con-
sideration was cut short by point
| Of order by Republican Leader
Lodge. Vice President Marshall
held that previous decisions of the
: senate in overriding his rulings
would operate to sustain the posi-
ton taken by Senator Lodge.
1t was on viva voce vote that
the treaty, after being before the
senate for many weeks, then was
laid aside. On Senator Lodges mo.
ton to take up Legislative business
no roll call was required and the
vice president declared it adopted
by acclamation.
| Republican leaders said the SEN
ate need not advise the president of
its action nor return the treaty to
him with formal notice.
Can Resubmit Treaty.
"The president may Withdraw it
when the senate reconvenes," SEN
ator Lodge said, "and, of course, he
can then resubmit it in the next ses-
sion.
| "But the treaty is dead irpIthis
senate and they killed it as I told
they they would if they voted
1against it."
Senator Hitchcock said the treaty
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