Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-07
PACT ARGUMENTS
CREATING LITTLE.
SENATE INTEREST
Four Speeches Heard by
Small Audience-VoIuntary
Agreement to Hasten Vote
Sought by Leaders.

Washington, Oct. 6.-Considera
ton OF the peace treaty in the sen
ate did not reach the reading of the
printed text leading up to the Shan
tung provision on which the next
fight will be made. The days pro-
gram comprised four speeches, with
small attendance and listless in
terest in the proceedings.
The principal speech was by Sen.
ator McCumber of North Dakota
republican member Of the foreign re.
lations committee, who declined to
sign the majority report recon-
mending amendments and reserva-
tons to the treaty and the league OF
nations covenant. Other speakers
were Senators Mccormick, Illinois
and Lenroot. Wisconsin. republi-
cans, and Walsh, democrat, Mon
tana. The discussion related to
much ground heretofore covered. al
though Senator Mccormick devoted
some attention to the British-Per-
sian treaty.
Don't Discuss Shantung.
Some senator's, anxious to speed
up the treaty, had indicated that it
might be possible to jump right into
discussion of the Shantung question
with prospects of vote within the
next few days. There was scarcely
a reference to it, however, and as the
debate was general no effort was
made to resume the reading SO as
to bring the senate UP to the Shan
tung amendment, next on the list
for vote.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska,
leading the democrat fight for un-
amended ratification, objected to a
move to set aside the treaty tempo
rarily to consider another matter
and in doing so insisted that the SEN
ate should begin work on the pact
earlier than 2 o'clock, the usual hour
at which it has been called up.
Members of both houses of con-
gress are counting on recess about
the first of next month and as this
depends, of course, upon final dispo-
sition of the treaty the suggestion
has been made by some senator's, it
was said, that the two parties en-
deavor at separate conferences to
figure on how much actual talking
time will be required by both sides.
As it seems to be admitted by all
that every senator knows now how
he will vote, regardless of future
discussion, there is still a growing
disposition in some quarters not to
prolong the proceedings by speeches
although democratic and republican
leaders unite in declaring that at
tempts to shut off speeches will not
be tolerated. What they seek, it is
said, is a voluntary agreement cal
.ulated to hasten a vote.
McCumber's Speech Sharp.
Senator McCumber in his speech
sharply denied the argument that
Great Britain would have six votes
against one for the United States in
the league, and contended that the
United States would be the DOM
inant power. At mere nod from
this government, he said, 10 coun-
tries Of the western hemisphere had
declared war on Germany, and it
was the most natural thing in the
world, he added, to find them stand
ing with and voting with the United
States almost in blood for any.
thing the United States desired"
In a dispute between the United
States and Great Britain or in mat
tiers vitality affecting the interests Of
either nation, Great Britain's col
onies would have no voice in the
league, Senator McCumber de-
clared, "while the stepchildren and
wards Of the United States in South
and Central America would follow
the lead Of this country"