The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-04-21
COLOMBIA PACT
RATIFIED WITH
BITTER DEBATE
Vote is So to 10 in the Senate
Marking Harding Adminis-
trati0n Victory
GREW OUT OF CANAL WORK
Had Been Charged That TheO-
dOre Roosevelt Wr0nged
Colombian Government
GREW OUT OF CANAL WORK

Washington, April 2l.--The Colon
bian treaty gOwing out Of the parti-
tioning of Panama was ratified by the
senate. 1t provides for the payment
by the United States of $25,00O,00O to
the South American republic, but hn;
yet to be approved by the Colombian
assembly.
The vote on ratification was 60 to
19, or II more than the necessary two
thirds majority.
The Harding administration through
ratification Of the treaty won its frs,
fight in the senate. The president in
message to the special session Of
the senate, March 8, five days after his
inauguration, recommended ratifica-
ton as Every helpful at the present
time in promoting our friendly rela-
tionship."
Lodge Champions It.
This recommendation was supple
mented yesterday by Senator Lodge, Of
Massachusetts, the Republican leader,
who in reply to attacks Of Republican
senators of the progressive group, de-
part of great national foreign poll
cy" contemplated by President Hard
ing towards our neighbors in the
Southern and Eastern hemispheres."
Forty Republicans were. Joined by
20 Democrats in voting for ratification
One Republican, Page, Vermont, and
three Democrats, Shields, Tennessee:
Owen, Oklahoma, and Walsh, Montana,
were paired in it's favor. Two Repub-
lican senators, Elkjns, West Virginia
and Newberry, Michigan, were absent
and not voting.
BQrah Amendment Fails.
In theHoll calls on Senator Borah's
amendment to exculpate this nation
and agents from any wrong doing III
acquiring the canal three Democrats
voted with 36 Republicans, on the
first call, and with 81 Republicans o..
a second call These Democrats were
Kcndrick, Wyoming; Reed, Missouri
and Watson. Missouri. Republicans
who first voted for the Borah amend
ment later voted in opposition These
were Dillingham;, Vermont; Fernalt
Maine; Keyes, New Hampshire; Iaod
North Dakota; Lodge, Massachusetts;
Mckinley. Illinois; Spencer, Missouri;
Sterling, South Dakota and Suther-
land, West Virginia.
Lodge Changes Front.
A murmur swept the chamber when
Senator Lodge changed front on tho
amendment. A mild demonstration had
occurred when he supported it on the
first call. Senator LaFollettc, Repub-
lican. Wisconsin. who supported mos1
OF the other amendments proposed
voted loudly in the negative on the
BOrah amendment.
How Fight Started.
The Colombian treaty grew out Of
the charge that the United States had
wronged Colombia in the partition of
Panama. 1t was one thing in Sc
quence OF many connected with the
building of the Panama canal, and
what was characterized by its pre-
ponents "the taking OF the Isthmus b,
Theodore Roosevelt while Congress de-
bated."
Briefly stated, those wh0>urged rati-
fication of the treaty charged that
when Panama revolted from Colombo
an rule, American naval forces pre-
vented Colombia from recovering her
lost territory.
Those who opposed ratification of
the treaty charged that Colombia hal
long been engaged in trying to "hold
up" the United States for large sum
of money for a canal route; that Pa
mama, once an independent state, re-
volted from Colombian rule for Just
cause and that the presence of Amer
lean naval forces had nothing to do
(Continued on Page Six