The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-08-19
Condition of Country Demands
Action, Senator Hitchcock
Says in Statement.
INTEREST IN CONFERENCE
Reporting of Treaty Out of Com
nittee Should BE First Step in
Dealing With High Cost of
Living, He Says.

Washington, Aug. 1S.-What prom
ises to be one Of the crucial weeks
of the peace treaty fight in the senate
began yesterday with the issuance Of
formal statement by Senator Hitch
cock, of Nebraska, the administration
senate leader, declaring conditions
throughout the country demanded
that the treaty be brought out Of the
foreign relations committee promptly
and ratified.
For five weeks, Senator Hitchcock
said. the treaty has been lin cold
storage" in a committee controlled by
its enemies. Action on it should be
the first step. he asserted, in dealing
with the high cost of living.
During the week, the outstanding
feature of which is to be the White
House conference Tuesday between
President Wilson and the committee,
Senator Hitchcock is expected to make
senate speech urging that the treaty
be brought to a vote and voicing op-
position to any amendments.
Tomorrow the committee will re-
sumo it's hearings, questioning
Thomas F. Millard, a writer on far
eastern subjects, regarding the treaty
provision which gives Japan control
In Shantung province, China. Against
this provision, Republican senator's
declare opposition is increasing and
they argue that interest fully war
rants Withholding committee action
regarding it until all the possible
facts have been uncovered. Later In
the week four other witnesses are to
be heard.
Interest Centers Around Conference.
So that committee consideration
may not be interrupted, leaders said
the senate might have only brief
session tomorrow and then adjourn
until Wednesday, when Senator Owen,
Democrat, Oklahoma. has given no,
tice he will speak on the league OF ma
tions. Several other addresses also
are expected during the week.
Interest in Tuesdays White House
conference increases as the time
draws nearer. 1t is expected Mr.. Will
son will be asked to disclose many or
the inside developments in the peace
negotiations which the members saw
they have failed to get from the wit
nesses examined.
Senator Hitchcock's statement.
, wired here from the senator's sum
mer home at Swampscott, Mass, was
made public through the local office
of the league to enforce peace.
The treaty ratification situation. >"
the statement said, Changed some
what during the past week. A new
issue was raised when I asked the
chairman of the foreign relations
committee and majority members
when they proposed to get action.
Il took this course after consulting
with number of senator's There has
been growing demand for action by
the committee. II has had the treaty
since July 10 For five weeks. there
fore, the treaty has been in cold stor-
age without vote or any other ac-
tion.
THE senate is waiting, and the
country is waiting, and the impa-
thence is increasing. Every one knows
that the enemies of the treaty and
opponents of the league of nations
control the committee. Every one
also knows that they do not control
the senate. Public sentiment resents
the suggestion that the opponents OF
the peace treaty might keep 1t locked
in committee, and this greatly delays
ratification"
Should DO Something.
Mr.. Hitchcock said it was the hone
o. the administration forces to begin
voting in committee this week on pro-
posed amendments preparatory to
having the treaty reported TO the SEN
ate In week or 10 days.
1T is of little importance" the
senator continued "what the commit
Zee does as long as IL does something.
If 1t recommends amendments, the
I senate will reject them. If IL mutt
lates the treaty. the senate will cure