The sun., 1919-10-26
VOTE ON TREATY
MAY GO OVER TO
NEXT SESSION
Leaders Refuse to Agree on
Johnson Amendment
Ballot Tuesday.
DEMOCRATS ARE DODGING
Public Sentiment Rapidly Is
Swinging to Republican
Policy, 1t Is Declared.
Special DespaioA TO THE SUI.

specio, DespaicA TO THE Sun.
WASHINGTON, Oct, % That the
peace treaty will not be ratified at the
present session of Congress became a
stronger possibility to-day than at any
time heretofore.
A fortnight ago it was generally TN
derstood that another week would
bring a vote on the Johnson amend
ment. That expectation was not real
lied. but 1t was fully expected that by
Wednesday or THURSDAY of the week
now ended the vote would be taken.
But again the tide OF conversational
insisterce swept away the hopes Of a
vote. Just before adjournment to-day
the leaders of the two sides, Mr.. Hitch
cock (Neb.) for the Democrats and
Mr.. Lodge (Mass.) for the Republic
cans, tried to bring the Senate to
agreement on vote Tuesday on this
amendment and failed. Wednesday
was substituted and still there was OBJ
lection. Another week Of the discus
sion is in fair prospect.
No Vote This Session.
After the collapse of these negotia-
tons Senator who had taken lively
interest in them said that the situa-
ton in the chamber justified him in
doubling strongly If there would be a
final vote on the treaty this session.
He is one OF the irreconcilable oppo-
nents and his view is to be understood
as a reflection Of his wishes. He ex-
planned:
There is no more powerful force in
the Senate to back insistence on a final
vote or on agreement to fix the time for
beginning the preliminary voting on
amendments and reservations. Many
men on both sides of the chamber who
would vote for the treaty IL the test
were forced on them now still are hoping
that they may be saved from the neces-
sity of casting such vote. They do
not believe in the treaty. A large ma
jority of the Senate does not believe in
1t. and the Senate has a way Of mud
ding through things of this kind and
avoiding the conclusion II does not at
heart want to reach.
ION the Democratic side even 1t is
not known whether the President would
perfecs a ratification made on the only
terms that can be presented to him-that
is, with the strong reservations that are
certain to be adopted. Naturally men
who dislike the treaty anyhow are not
going to be enthusiastic about pressing
for the privilege of casting vote that
in their hearts they hate to cast.
Opposition Is Stronger.
''On the Republican side there is a
irm belief that public sentiment is rap
idly Strengthening the hand Of the oppo-
sition and making itself felt among Sem
ators-strengthening the positions of
Senators who a little time go were
classed as mid reservationists-until
now 1t can almost be said there are no
mild reservationists left.
at has suddenly developed that a
good many more Senators want TO talk
on the johnson amendment. II II is de-
feated there will be other measures
proposed to take it's place. aiming to
meet criticism that has been directed
against it in its present form. Mr.
Johnson has said that he will have q
further amendment to offer II this one Is
not found to meet the situation to the
Senate's satisfaction. Mr.. Shields has
offered another amendment dealing with
the same problem from the Democratic
side
THE reservations will be the subject
of long discussion later. Meanwhile
the national industrial situation becomes
daily more urgent, demanding attention
of Congress. The feeling is that Con-
gress ought to be supplying the nation
in this crisis with the leadership that
the Executive cannot give.
Many Other Problems Wait.
'If the treaty is not disposed Of this
session, II will be impossible to allow 1t
to absorb the Senate's attention next
Mr.. Cummins has announced that he
will insist on consideration of the rail-
road bill and he will have a powerful
support. If the coal strike Is inaugurated,
as now seems almost certain, Congress
cannot long evade responsibilities in
connection with II and with the many
other industrial difficulties that face US.
80, IL the treaty goes over to next
session 1t will be unable TO dominate
proceedings then The necessity to
compose the international situation will
compel the passage OF legislation putting
a legal end TO the state, nf war Once
that is done the treaty will have still
less power to monopoize attention other
and more pressing affairs will displace
It, and final action on II will recede
into a very vague future.
Meanwhile the public opinion hostile
to 1t will gain ground and the Presi-
dents power TO force his programme
on Congress will weaken as the pre-
liminaries OF the national campaign
keep the country mindful or the APP
preaching end of his term"
Hitchcock Is Doubtful.
Senator Hitchcock has for weeks been
frankly doubtful of the treaty's ratifica-
ton this session, though he has al
ways insisted that In the end II would
be approved. To-day his lieutenants
were mysteriously confident. but refused
absolutely to give the reasons for their
sudden access OF assurance.
The day was given to continuance Of
the debate over the Johnson amendment
Senator Shields presented the following
amendment:
Amendment proposed to Article w.
of the treaty with Germany to roliow the