The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-11-21
SENATE EFFORTS FAIL
TO RATIFY PEACE PACT
Body Finally Lays Document Aside.
Three Attemps End in
Failure.

after three attempts TO TdLlly IliS
peace treaty the senate late tonight
laid it aside, ended the special ses-
sion and went home.
All compromise efforts to bring
ratification failed, the three resolu-
tions of ratification all going down
by overwhelming maiorities. The
Republican leaders apparently des-
pairing of bringing two-thirds Of the
senate together for any sort OF ratl-
fcation then put in a resolution to
declare the war at an end.
Two of the three ratification votes
were taken on the resolution drafted
by the Republican majority contain
ing reservations which President
Wilson had told Democratic senators
in letter earlier in the day would
mean notification of the treaty. On
each of the votes most Of the Demo-
cratic supporters of the treaty voted
against ratification.
The first vote on this resolution
stood 80 for to SIS against. On the
second vote taken after several hours
Of parliamentary wrangling in which
the Democrats made vain efforts to
win over some of the Republican
group of mild reservationists, Al SEN
ators voted in the affirmative and 81
in the negative.
The third vote was on a straight
out ratification without reservations
which got only 3s votes to So oppos-
ing it. Only one Republican, Nc
Cumber, Of North Dakota voted with
the Democrats in it's support.
Difference of Opinion.
Republican Leader Lodge declared
today's voting constituted a final de-
cision on the peace treaty unless
President Wilson circumvented the
senate rules by Withdrawing it and
then submitting it again to the senate.
In other quarters, there was some
difference Of opinion, but the gener-
al sentiment seemed to be that there
was only slender chance that the
treaty would come up at the begin
ming of the next session Of congress,
beginning next month.
One effect of the senate's failure
to ratify the. treaty will be the con-
tinuation of various war time laws
and regulations at least until the new
session opens. Among these is the
var time prohibition act.
The resolution presented tonight to
declare a state of peace will come up
at the beginning of the next session
and is expected to start another stub
born fight. The administration is un-
derstood to be opposed to such
method of legally ending the war,
and in the back ground is a c2,2stl-
tutional question as to whether con-
gress can do so by resolution not
requiring the presidents signature.
It was suggested tonight among
Democratic senators that President
Wilson might be asked during the re-
cess to feel out the other powers as
to their attitude on reservations with
the idea of bringing the treaty to
some sort of a ratification after con-
gress reassembles.
Finally Put Aside.
It was on viva voce vote that the
treaty after being before the SEN
ate for many weeks then was laid
aside. On Senator Lodges motion to
take up legislative business no roll
cali was requested and the vice presi-
dent declared it adopted by acciama-
tion.
Senator Lodge, after adjournment
tonight declared "the treaty is dead
so far as this senate is concerned"
Republican leaders said the senate
need rot advise the president OF its
action nor return the treaty to him
with formal notice.
"The president may withdraw 1T
when the senate reconvenes," Sena-
tor Lodge said, "and, of course, he
can then resubmit it in the next ses-
sion.
"But the treaty is dead in this SEN
ate and they killed it as I told them
they would if they voted against it."
Senator Hitchcock said that the
treaty was not dead and that he pre-
sumed the president would resubmit
it on December /, although he had no
definite word from the president to
that effect. He said he thought the
had worked themselves
''into a very awkward position" and
sn1if themselves in the senate and the