The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-11-01
SENATE REJECTS
J0HNS0N'S BILL
Proposed Amendment to Peace
Treaty Defeated on Test
Vote
LODGE PARTISANS
GIVEN SURPRISE
There Remains But One More
Committee Amendment to Be
Disposed of

Washington, Oct. 27-The Johnson
amendment to the peace treaty des-
igned to equalize American and Brit
ish voting strength in the league OF
nations, was rejected in the senate to-
day by a vote Of 38 to 40.
On the roll call, which came uneN-
pectedly during a lull in the debate,
two Democrats joined the Republicans
supporting the amendment and nine
Republicans voted with the Democrats
against it. Of Is senators absent or
paired, four Republicans and two
Democrats were recorded as favoring
it and II Democrats opposing it
The senate then took up the Moses
amendment on the same subject, the
last survivor of as recommended by
the foreign relations committee. Over
the opposition of the administration
leaders action on this measure was
postponed, the senate adopting, 43 tt
| So, Republican Leader Lodges mo.
ton for recess until tomorrow
When the senate met, the leaders
had not hoped for q vote before TO.
morrow but after rambling debate
! Of an hour and half during which
nearly every current subject excep'
the league had been discussed it wa:
decided not to wait on the senators
who had announced they would SPEAK
on the amendment this week. Wher
Democratic Leader Hitchcock asked
that a time be set for a roll call dur.
ing the afternoon, Mr.. Lodge replied
he saw no reason why the vote shoulc
not be taken at once. The suddennes:
with which the roll call began appar.
emily took the administration force:
by surprise and although they hac
counted on a majority of six or eight
so many senator's were absent that
sigh Of relief went up from the Dem.
ocratic side when the result was an
nounced. 1t was by. the narrowes
margin by which any Of the commit.
tee amendments had been beaten
During the remainder Of the day
speeches supporting the Moses
amendment were made by Senators
Sherman, Illinois; Mccormick. Hi.
nois; Knox, Pennsylvania, and Wat.
son. Indiana. all Republicans. Sena'
tors Hitchcock and McCumber, Re-
publican, opposed it.
Senator Knox, a former secretary
of State, declared the preponderanee
of. British representatives in the
league was mot calculated to foster
salutary understanding" among the
English speaking peoples, and de-
MED that to amend the treaty would
lead to prolonged negotiations or Shut
off this country from the benefits OF
peace. Full official relations could be
reestablished with Germany. he de-
clared. as soon as the treaty had been
ratified by three allied powers and
Germany.
Senator Hitchcock opposed the
amendment as unnecessary and like
ly to endanger the whole treaty,
while Senator McCumber said he was
in accord with it's principle but
thought the same object could be ac-
ccmplished by reservations. Sena-
tor Sherman attacked the treaty in
detail and Senator Mccormick quoted
from Theodore Roosevelt to support
a plea for the preservation of nation
alism.
Charging Senator Hitchcock with
inconsistency. Senator Watson quot
ed declarations of the Democratic
leader opposing an arbitration treaty
negotiated with Great Britain in 1912.
At that time, said Mr.. Watson, Sen
ator Hitchcock opposed entangling
alliances and was fearful that even an
arbitration treaty would foster Brit
ish domination over the country.
Senator Lodges motion to recess
was made after the senate had been
in session for nearly seven hours and
Senator Hitchcock, declaring he saw
no reason why vote should not be
taken, demanded a record vote on the
recess motion. The result was a
strict party vote with the exception of
Senator Shields, Democrat of Ten
nessee, who voted with Republicans
for recess.