Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-11-21
SENATE FAILS TO ACT
Upper House AdjoulrnS With Treaty
Unfatified.
war TINE Law STILL IN FORCE

Because the President Said Reserva-
tions Meant Notification Democrats
Would Not Vote for Thenr-The
Pact Goes Over for the December
Session, When il Will Again Re-
ceive Consideration.
Failing after three attempts to rat
ify the peace treaty the senate On
Wednesday night laid II aside, ended
the special session and went home.
All compromise efforts to bring rati-
flcation failed, three resolutions Of rot
ification all going down by overwhelm-
ing majorities. The Republican lead
ers apparently despairing of bringing
two-thirds of the senate together FOR
any sort of ratification then put In
resolution to declare the war at an.
end.
Two of the three ratification votes
were taken on the resolution drafted
by the Republican majority containing
reservations which President Wilson
had told Democratic senators in let
ter earlier in the day would mean null
lification of the treaty. On each OF
the votes most of the Democratic sup
porters of the treaty voted against
ratification. -
The first vote on this resolution
stood 80 for to 55 against. On the sec
ond 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 senators
voted in the affirmative and 81 in the
negative. -
The third vote was on straight out
ratification without reservations which
got only 3S votes to So opposing It,
Only one Republican, McCumber or
North Dakota voted with the Demo-
Gratis in its support N
Difference Of Opinion.
Republican Leader Lodge declared
the voting constituted a final decision
on the peace treaty unless President
Wilson circumvented the, senate rules
by withdrawing it and then submit
ting it again to the senate. In other
quarters, there was some difference Of
opinion, but the general sentiment
seemed to be that there was only;
slender chance that the treaty would
come up at the beginning Of the next
session Of the congress, beginning next
month.
| One effect of the senate's failure to
ratify the treaty will be the contiru-
alton of various war time laws and
regulations at least until the new ses-
sion opens. Among these is the war
time prohibition act.
The resolution to declare a state OF
peace will come UP at the beginning
of the next session and Is expected
to start another stubborn fight. The
administration is understood TO be
opposed to such a method of legaily
ending the war, and in the back ground
| is a constitutional question as 70
whether congress can do so by a reso-
luton not requiring the presidents
signature. ..
1t was suggested among Democratic
senator's that resident Wilson might
be asked during the recess to feel out
the other powers as to their attitude
on reservations with the idea Of bring
ing the treaty to some sort OF a rati-
fcation after congress reassembles.
1t was on a viva voce vote that the
treaty after being before the senate
for many weeks then was laid aside.
On Senator Lodges motion to take
up legislative business, no roll call was
requested and the vice president de-
clared it adopted by acclamation.
Senator Lodge, after adjournment
declared "the treaty Is dead so far as
this senate is concerned"
Republican leaders said the senate
need not advise the president OF Its ac-
ton nor return the treaty to him with
formal notice.
"The president may withdraw 1t
when the senate reconvenes,". Sena-
/ tor Lodge said, land, of course, he
can then resubmit 1t in the next ses-
sion.
But the treaty is dead in this sem
ate and they killed it as 1 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 l, although he had no
definite word from the president to
that effect He said he thought the
Republicans had worked themselves
Into a very awkward position" and
split themselves in the senate and the
| country.
/