New-York tribune., 1919-11-15
Vote ON Cloture TODAY
To Decide Treaty's Fate

visions of the league covenant are
faithfully observed.
There is still the moral obligation
resting on the United States, also TAX
ing the treaty as whole, to act with
the other members of the league to
prevent war, and while we are not
bound to furnish troops unless Com
gress sees fit to do SO, Congress un-
questionably will see that the county
does its partwhatevcr may be neces-
sary--to prevent an unjust war"
Senator McCumber believes thnt the
Democrats, despite the fact that clo-
ture would prevent the operation of
the Hitchcock program Of holding the
treaty in the mir and forcing a COM
promise by defeating the Lodge rcser-
vation program. will be forced to ac-
cept cloture, and rs result the treaty
may be finally ratified next week. He
regards it AS necessary TO accept
ate has voted overwhelmingly to give
authority to any Congress at any time
to vote the United States out of the
leag on two years notice by mere
majority of both Houses Of Congress.
Must Give Reservations
eve have got to give opponents of
the treaty reservations strong enough
to meet their most important objec-
tions." MI McCumber explained, $50
as to lessen the danger that withdrawal
viii take p ace.
"These reservations will meet SO
many of their objections that | think
it will take much of the starch out of
any fight to withdraw from the
league."
the present prospect is that the
Lodge ratification resolution viii be
voted down. Then the motion to g.
ns der will be passed Next inc
tab.ed and then the Lodge ratification
resolution will be put through, the
Democrats yielding. This may not
work out just that way, but it is the
private opinion of very important Ad-
ministration Senator'S who for obvious
strategical reasons cannot be quoted
A vote for cloture by the admin
istration Senators tomorrow will be
regarded by some "irreconc.la as
evidence of the intention of the Demo
Gratis to abandon Senator Hitchcock's
p an for "stalemate" Oh the treaty
situation.
The cloture proposal framed by Sen
ator Lodge would limit the opponents
Of the Lodge reservations to final
vote on those reservations, in the opin-
on of Senator Borah, leader of the
"irreconci ables."
Evidence of Acceptance
"The cloture would make it impos
sible for Senator Hitchcock to keep
the treaty before the Senate indefi.
nite'y while he was trying to arrange
4 compromise" said Senator Borah
s
for cloture it will be an indication
hat they are prepared to accept the
Lodge reservations"
Republican votes cast against the
Lodge cioture petition. Most of the
"irreconcilables" will oppose it, some
because they oppose the principle OF
Uniting debate in the Senate, and
three or four, becsuse they have
p AIMED to deliver long speeches
against the resolution of ratification
after the resolution has been presented
IN the Senate.
Several Democratic Senators have
signified their intention of voting for
Hitchcock takes on the proposal.
Among these are Senators Ashurst, of
Arizona; Thomas, of Colorado; Gore, of
Oklahoma, and Walsh, of Montana.
Repub leans who favor reservations
will launch a strong offensive to force
rhe Democrats to accent tho rctiton
ehutting off debate. The Administra-
tion Senators" on Wednesday signed 8
petition similar to the Lodge petition,
but at the last minute substituted or 1t
the proposal presented by Sonat r
Hitchcock. The substitute would have
left the way clear for Senator Hitch
cock to attempt to bring about the
"stalemate" situation after the Lodga
ratifying resolution has been voted
upon.
sThe "mild reservation" Republicans
conferred with the "irreconci ables" in
dividuall to-day and sought to win
them over to cloture. They argued it
would limit the parliamentary tactic
of the Adminstrat Jon forces, and two
n three Of the irreconciables" said
-o-night they might vote for the Lodge
petition to force the hand of the Ad-
ninistration forces.
Senator Johnson, of California. one
# the "irreconcilables," said that he
would vote against it. Other Repub-
licans who will oppose the Lodge pro-
posal are Senators Borah and KnoM
Senator johnson predicted that the
Administration will accept the Lodge
reservation and vote for the Lodge
reservation of ratification.