New-York tribune., 1919-06-12
Democrats to
Fight Knox
Resolution
Senator Hitchcock to Lead
Filibuster Against Vote on
Measure to Keep Peace
Treaty Pact Out of League
NeaD York Tribune
Wdshin nation Bureau


Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 11-Adminis-
tration senator's decided to-day to use
every possible means to prevent :ote
on the Knox resolution asking the
peace conference to separate the league
of nations covenant from the peace
treaty, before the President returns
from Paris.
This decision was reached after sew
eral conferences. Senator Hitchcock,
OF Nebraska spokesman for the admin
| istration, is very mitch perturbed over
the situation. lie characterized the
Knox resolution as "a serious menace" :"
Although confident the Senate if per-
mitted to vote, would kill the proposal,
Senator Hitchcock said it would ''be
calamitous" to have vote at this
time. More than third of the Senate,
he explained, might be shown in this
way to oppose the league. Such a
notice served on the peace conference,
he fears, might be misconstrued and
upset the whole peace agreement.
Senator Hitchcock said that because
of the seriousness of the whole situa-
ton and their belief that the league
opponents intend to railroad through"
the Knox resolution, the Democrats ex-
pect to fl;buster with all their might
Consideration To-day
In the meantime, Republican leaders
took steps to get the subject before
the Senate. The Foreign Relations
Committee set tomorrow for consid-
Grafton of the resolution. In all prob
ability the measure, slightly amended,
will be reported to the Senate for pas
sage during the morning hour.
Senator Knox said he would get the
question before the Senate at once by
moving that it be made the unfinished
business. Such a motion is debatable
and no doubt would precipitate the
whole discussion.
In committee it is expected that the
vote will be 9 to for the resolution.
Senator McCumber, Of North Dakota,
i: is thought will vote with the Demo
Gratis. Supporters of the league could
prevent report by the use of the fill
buster in committee, but it is not
thought this will be DONE
Opponents of the league plainly are
elated over the situation. For the
most part the opposition is coming
from Republicans. Right now they
have the Democrats "in a hole" so to
speak, and intend to press their ad-
vantage.
Expect Allies to Be Impressed
Administration Senator'S are expected
to start their filibuster when Senator
Knox seeks to get his resolution before
the Senate. Republicans say this will
be to their advantage because it will
show to the peace conference that the
Democrats are afraid to get the sub
ject before the Senate and permit a
vote, therefore admitting defeat. Such
men as Senators Lodge, of Massachu-
setts, and Knox, who had long con-
ference this afternoon. expect the al
lied statesmen to be impressed by the
seriousness of the objection in the SEN
ate to the league of nations even
though the. administrations succeeds in
preventing a vote.
Two Republican Senators, Mr.. Nc
Cumber and Mr.. McNary, of Washing
ton, are known to oppose the Knox
resolution. Senator Kellogg, Of Nome
sofa, is being claimed by both sides.
He is not ready, he said late to-day, to
state his position. Democrats who will
vote with the Republican majority are
Mr.. Reed, Of Missouri, and Mr.. Gore, of
Oklahoma. Senator Bankhead, Of Ala
bama, and Senator Myers, of Montana,
also are counted on to support the
Knox proposal.