South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-30
LEADERS CONFER ON
TREATY ACCEPTANCE
Party Lines Are Abandoned
by Democrats for Vote OLE
Pact With Germany.

WASHINGTON, sept 29.-Ratif-
alton by the senate in a fortnight
Of the administration peace treaties
with Germany. Austria and Hungary
doomed as a prospect Thursday night
after republican and democratic
leaders during the day had discuss
ed a proposed unanimous consent
agreement drafted by Sen. Lodge
the republican leader, to take the
final votes oct. IA or 10.
Both expressed hopes Of obtain
ing a formal order Of the senate
Friday providing for such a program
and all factions expressed the opin-
ion that the agreement would be
reached
Announcement of the negotiations
was made in the senate late Thurs
day by Sen. Lodge and with the dis
cussions showing evidences of sue
cess. the republicans dropped their
plan for a night session Thursday
night. Sen. Lodge minated, how
ever, that should the agreement be
blocked he would return TO the night
session drive for ratification.
senate Agreement NedfS.
Mr.. Lodge said he had every
reasonable hope" Of reaching ar
/ a agreement and Sen. Underwood. tbs
democratic leader, also said ar
/ agreement had been practically
reached" and was ready for con
summation Friday.
Involved in the program is a pro
l 81 IL
/ TO debate the treaties thetaX revision
bill would be laid aside temporarily
( It is expected, however, that the taN
measure actually will be before the
/ senate most of next week, with the
/ following week. preceding the date
for voting. largely devoted to the
/ treaties.
The movement for a voting agree.
ment developed Thursday in a con.
( ference of democratic senator's who
| declared unanimously against tn,
republican plan for night sessions
and authorized overtures by Sen
I Underwood TO the republicans fol-
voting agreement.
Abandon Party Vote.
The democrats affirmed their stand
against making ratification a party
/ question and left each senator free
TO vote rs he shall determone.
In the ffeort to agree upon a date
/ for voting on ratification. Chairman
I Fenrose Of the finance committee
/ in charge Of the tax bill. agreed e
/ give way to the treaties, stating h,
believed it would operate actuall!
to expedite his measure.
The only address in the senate OF
the treaties Thursday was by Sen
Watson. democrat, Georgia. who op
posed ratification because he said n,
believed they would drag the United
States into the League of Nations
and European entanglements.
Ever since Pres't Harding's in
auguratiOn, Sen Watson declared
the nation has been drifting IRE
sistably'' into the league. He ais
contended that the treaties failed
to provide for release Of American
citizens who had violated the espion
age laws.
Debs Only repeated"
Referring apparently TO Eugen,
. V. Debs, he said a man was servinl
a ten year sentence in the Atlant5
penitentiary for repeating his (Mr
/ Watson's) words.
Because he repeated a part o.
a speech I made" said Sen. Watson
that cOnscriptiCn was unconstitu
tional. should not he be in the senat,
and I I'm the prison. He did no
say a thing more than I have sale
I here in the senate. and 7 think In
better company than he is. That il
my opinion"