New-York tribune., 1920-01-16
of
Senate in Tie
On Leadership
Hitchcock and Underwood
Get l9 Votes Apiece OH
Two Ballots i'll Caucus:
HOke Smith Not Recorded
NeW York Tribune
Wushin notof, Bureau


WASHINGTON, Jan. 15.-The Demo
Gratis in the Senate failed to elect q
permanent leader to-day, after a two
hours bitter fight in a caucus. Two
ballots were had and both resulted in
a tie vote. 10 for Senator Hitchcock.
OF Nebraska, and 10 fol~ Senator Un-
derwood, of Alabama. the rival candi-
dates
Senator Smith, of Georgia. declined
to vote. According to the campaign
Hitchcock, he had given both candi-
dates the impression he would vote
for them and was unable to vote FOR
either
The situation rests with him TO-
night. All of the absent Senators
were paired, and record of the vote
shows that twenty-three Senators
favored Underwood and twenty three
favored Hitchcock.
Leans to Underwood
The Underwood forces predicted after
the caucus that Senator Smith will vote
Tor the Alabama Senator when the
Democrats meet again. Senator Smith
said that he had not authorized anv
such announcement.
Ihe Democrats adjourned their eau
Gus without taking up any other mat
ter. they will meet again when Sena-
tors Underwood and Hitchcock call
them into session.
Senator Underwood was in a position
to secure his election by maioritv of
one at one stage of the fight TODAY
The Hitchcock forces had agreed to
permit carter Glass, recently appointed
to the Senate from Virginia and who
tavors Underwood to vote in the eau
Gus, although he has not yet resigned
as Secretary of the Treasury. Precc-
dents were cited to show that il was
permissible.
When 1t became apparent, however.
that the result on the first ballot would
be. close, Hitchcock supporters voiced
opposition to permitting Mr.. Glass TO
vote. Senator Underwood then said
tnat ne would Dot ask that Mr.. Glass
The next caucus will not be held un
~ Mr' GLASS has taken his seat in the
Senate. This probably will be within
the next two weeks, it is expected.
Administration Senators generally
voted for Underwood to-day. but there
was no distinct sectional line-un
hitchcock received the support Of sew
eral Southern Senators, while Under
wood received the votes of Senator's
from the North and West.
Inc peace treaty was not brought
up at the caucus, but it had strong
indirect influence upon the result. OBJ
position to Senator Hitchcock's leader
ship OF the Administration forces in
the Senate fight gave Underwood sew
eral votes. The Senators who have
been working for ratification without
consulting the wishes of President Will
son regarded the result of the election
as reputation of Hitchcock's leader
SNIP, Inasmuch as the caucus failed to
indorse him.
Vote on Leadership
The vote on the leadership follows:
For Senator Hitchcock - Ashurst.
Chamberlain, Culberson, Henderson,
kendrick, King, Kirby, Myers, Nugent.
O11,verman, Phelan, Pomerene, Robinson l.,
Sheppard,. Simmons, Thomas, Tram
NELL, Walsh, OF Montana; Wolcott--
For Senator Underwood-B
Dial, Fletcher, Gay. Gerry. Gore
Harris, Harrison, Jones, of New Mexico: !:
Mcclellan, Pittman, Ransdell, Reed,
Shields, Smith, of Maryland; Smith. of
South Carolina; Stanley, Walsh, of
Massachusetts; Williams-nineteen.
Senator Smith made the following
explanation after the caucus:
II said when entered the caucus
that my associates knew l was. accus-
toned to meeting all votes in the SEN
ate or in the caucus. I explained. how
ever. that in this case my personal
relations with and affection Tor both
Senator Underwood and Senator Hitch
cock were such that | wanted to vote
for each of them and had not been
aoie to bring myself to vote against
either of them.
THE matter was cause of great
embarrassment to me, but under the
ri ShC