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Show DEBATE BEGINS. The German peace treaty and league of nations covenant has been formally presented for debate in the senate. Chairman Lodge of the foreign relations rela-tions committee did not indulge in a set speech and the first address was delivered by Senator Jones of New Mexico who supported the pact. Senator Sen-ator McCumber of North Dakota, the only Republican member of the foreign relations committee whe? refused to sign the majority report, filed a minority report setting forth his individual views, which are antagonistic to those held by Chairman Lodge. The situation as regards the ultimate ratification of the treaty and covenant shows no change. Few people in Washington or in any of tho states of the union expect ex-pect the senate to ratify the work of the Versailles conference without qualifications. quali-fications. The main fight will bo over the reservations, it being conceded that amendments are out of the question. There are a number of "mild reserva-tionista" reserva-tionista" on the Republican side of the chamber and some "drastic reserva-tionists" reserva-tionists" on the Democratic side. These senators hold the key to the situation and if they are able to agree upon the subject ratification will be a comparatively compara-tively easy matter when tho voting stage is reached. How long tho debate de-bate will continue is a matter of conjecture. con-jecture. Tlue senators should be ablo to reach a conclusion by the first of November at tho very latest. The sen-nto, sen-nto, how-ever, is a very deliberate body; so deliberate, in fact, that it frequently fails to do any real legislative work until the last week of the session and fails at times on account of filibusters. filibus-ters. Owing to the importance of the peace treaty, most people will hope for early action. |