New-York tribune., 1919-09-16
Senators Clash
In First Open
Treaty Session
Continued from paEc l

glnla
Word was received that Senator
Borah had suddenly given up his
speaking tour through the West and
was needing the requests of opposi-
tlon Senators to return immediately
to the capital. His address sched-
uled to have been delivered in Des
Moines tonight was cancelled.
Confirmation was obtained of the
report tfat General Pershing had
told guests at dinner party that the
league Of nations would not prevent
war; that the United States should
be prepared for war, and that he had
limited Of trouble in Mexico and with
Japan.
1t is expected the fight in the Senate
for the next three weeks will be one of
time, as Republican leaders have indi-
Gated clearly that they hope to delay
the first test vote for about that length
of time, though insisting they do not
want to defer the final vote. 1t is the
hope of the Republicans that all set
speeches will be disposed of before the
first vote. and thereafter the treaty, as
far as they are concerned, can be dis
posed of without delay.
Expect Democratic Aid
The attitude of the Republicans is
said to be based on the fact that GER
tain developments indicative Of pub
lie sentiment toward the treaty are
/ r. tnH N nd
they are hopeful the American peo-
pie will reveal their attitude in GER
tain states when the opportunity arises
IN such way as to Justify Demo
cratic Senators who secretly want to
vote with the Republicans not only on
reservations but on amendments in
daring to change their stand.
Senator Hiram Johnson. whose
giving the United States
all equal vote with Great Britain in
the league assembl will be the first
to be reached in the formal reading
of the treaty for amendments, tele-
eraphed to-day to know if he should
return right away so as to be pres
ent when the vote is taken.
The Republican plans were thrown
awry by the discovery that the Dem
ocrats did not propose to make any
attack or this amendment, except to
point out formally their contention
that any amendment would kill the
treaty. The Republicans had been
counting .on q flood of Democratic
oratory aGains. this amendments
Tho leaders telegraphcd Senator
Johnson, however, tc Keep on with
his trip, as they believed he was do
ing more good for their cause by his
speeches in the West than he could
do in the Senate.
This week is expected to pass quickly.
Senator Sherman intends TO make a
long speech tomorrow, touching On
peace mission. Then the Senate will
adjourn over Wednesday, Pershing
Day, and Thursday, when Congress will
give the general reception. BY that
time, it is expected, the formal speeches
will be we'll lined up.
1t became evident from the tilt on
the floor between Senators Lodge and
Hitchcock that more feeling is going
to be injected into the debate There
are indications this will be the bitter
est fight in which the Senate has en-
gagged since the Panama Canal tolls
battle, in the course of which. one
night, it was necessary for Senator
Ashurst to leap in between two Sena-
Mr.. Hitchcock angered the Repub-
licans considerably to-day. and tonight
it was hnted he will be griled about
his pre-war record toward Germany
the next time he "insults" any of his
league opponents.
Pershing's Stand Chief Development
General Pershing's stand against the
league is regarded by opponents of
n "a -;
ment. 1t was learned tonight that
the General had requested his hearing
before the Congressional Military Com
mittee be postponed for a month. The
assigned reason, it was said, was that
he would be in much better touch with
the situation at the end of that time
as he had so far not been able to 80
over the War Department army bill
or go over the situation at the depart
ment.
Actually, it is believed by some Sen
ators, his reason is that he would
surely be asked about the league Of
nations and he wishes to avoid going
on record publicly against the Presi-
dent while the treaty fight is raging
on the Senate floor Aftcrward, it is
pointed out, the General can easily
avoid giving opinions as to the merits
OF the league and can discuss the obi
cations imposed by it with respect to
increased armies, etc, without taking
sides.
No Denial by Pershing
The mysterious "Rylcy Grannon," Of
"The Washington Post" however, wrote
the story of General Pershing's express
sion of opinion that the league wou d
not prevent wars and the hint at his
expectancy of trouble with MEXICO and
Japan, which was printed this morning.
and General Pershing declined to deny
the ruth Of the article
Some Of the Administration Senators
were very much disturbed not only over
this, but over the continued silence of
Secretary of State Lansing, who so far
has not rcpudlatcd his quoted comment
that the league was "eAtiroly useless" ,"
parts Of the treaty "thorough)y bad "
and that if the Senate and people un-
derstood what the treaty "lcts them in
for" the treaty would be rejected
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