The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-10-31
JOHNSON PROPOSAL
DEFEATED 80 TO 40
Vote Came Unexpectedly During
Lull in Debate

Washington, Oct. 27.-The Johnson
amendment to the peace treaty,
designed to equalize American and
British voting strength in the league
Of nations, was rejected in the
Senate today by vote of 3S to 30.
On the roll-call, which came unex-
pectedly in a lull in the debate, two
Democrats joined the Republicans
supporting the amendment and nine
Republicans voted with the Demo-
Gratis against it. Of eighteen Sena-
tors absent or paired four Republi-,
cans and two Democrats were record
ed as favoring it. and twelve Demo-
Gratis as opposing it.
The Senate then took up the Moses
amendment on the same subject, the
last survivor of forty-six recommend
ed by foreign relations committee.
! Over the opposition of the admins
tration leaders action on this measure
was postponed, the Senate adopting
43 to 36-Republican Leader Lodges
motion for recess until tomorrow.
When the Senate met the leaders
had not hoped for vote before to-
morrow, but after rambling de-
hate of an hour and a half, during
which nearly every current subject
except the league had been discussed,
it was decided not to wait on the
Senators who had announced they
would speak on the amendment this
week. When Democratic Leader
Hitchcock asked that time be set
for a roll-call during the afternoon
Mr.. Lodge replied that he saw no
reason why the vote should not be
taken at once.
Surprises Democrats.
The suddenness with which the
roll-call began apparently took the
administration forces by surprise, and
although they had counted on a
; majority of six to eight, so many
Senators were absent that sigh of
relief went up from the Democratic
side when the result was announced.
It was by far the narrowest margin
by which any of the committee
amendments had been beaten.
During the remainder Of the day
speeches supporting the Moses amend
ment were made by Senators Sher-
man of Illinois, Mccormick of Hi
nois, Knox of Pennsylvania and
! Watson of Indiana, all Republicans.
Senators Hitchcock and McCumber,
Republican, of North Dakota, opposed
it.
Senator Knox, a former Secretary
of State, declared the preponderance
of British representation in the
! league was mot calculated to foster
salutary understanding" among the
English-speaking peoples, and denied
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
! declared, as soon as the treaty had
been ratified by three Allied powers
and Germany.
Says Unnecessary.
| Senator Hitchcock opposed the
amendment as unnecessary and likely
to endanger the whole treaty, while
Senator McCumver said he was in &C
cord with it's principle, but thought
the same object could be accomplished
by reservation. Senator Sherman It
tackled the treaty in detail and Sen
ator Mccormick quoted from Theo-
dore Roosevelt to support plea for
the preservation of nationalism.
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.. Wat
son, Senator Hitchcock opposed en-
tangling alliances and was fearful
that even an arbitration treaty would
foster British domination over this
country.
Senator Lodges motion to recess
was made after the Senate had been
| in session for nearly seven hours, and
rr:4.L,n,l, doo1aripo he SAW