The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-15
HERALDS WILSON'S
CALL TO HITCHCOCK
Administration Tries to Prove
Harmony in Democratic
Ranks on League.
RIFT WORRIES LEADERS
President Invites Nebraskan
to Assume Leadership He
Already Held in Fight.


WASHINGTON. July II. - Democrats
so worried over the difficulties which
have arisen between the President and
Senator Hitchcock (Neb.). who was his
spokesman In league matters all Of the
time while he was away, that they are
doing everything possible TO smooth over
the difficulties.
This fact was particularly noticeable
to-day when publicity was given to the
fact that the President had called Sen
ator Hitchcock on the telephone in re-
gard to appearing before the Foreign
Relations Committee of the Senate and
defending his league plan. The Presi-
dent is seemingly anxious to do this, de-
spite the decision of tho Republicans to
be content with Secretary of state Lans-
ing upon his return from Paris.
Ordinarily, the President could have
called up Senator Hitchcock or any
other Senator a score OF times in a day
without any one learning of It, How
ever. this particular talk over the phone
was heralded to the world to-day through
Washington writer who has been
used before to get the Administrations
views before the public, and the sig
niflcance of this fact did not escape Re-
publican opponents of the league scheme.
AS matter of fact, the Democrats
and the lone Republican supporter OF
the League of Nations in the Senate are
walking on very thin ice. The rift
in their ranks, becoming known, has
caused them no little distress. With A
| number of Democratic Senators incln-
ing more and more to one or another
of the proposed reservations by the SEN
! ate, 1t Is regarded as essential by league
| supporters that there should be no APP
pearanee OF a lack of harmony between
the President and any of the league sup
! porters
Since the Presidents address on
| Thursday last. which admittedly failed
to expla in or defend the league covenant
the anti-league Senators have noticed
plainly a solidifying and disqualification
! OF opinion adverse to the league, while
| the proponents of the league. many Of
whom are finding It hard to swallow the
Shantung provision of the peace treaty
Article Y. and other phases of the peace
pact and the league covenant, are plainly
more demoralized.
The uncertainty now about who will
lead the Senate fight for the covenant
has added to this distress 1t was re-
ported to-day that the President during
Hitchcock had invited him 10 assume
leadership of the fight. II this is true
and 1t comes from source In close
touch with the White House-it is be-
lieved here by snti-league Senators TO
be direct confirmation from the White
House OF the split between Hitchcock
and the President.
As Senator Hitchcock has been Lad
| ing the fight up TO now with no Ques-
ton of any one else doing IT, the re-
ported invitation to-day to lead 1t again
was taken as indicating that the Adj
mnistration had discarded the Nebras-
kan. but upon second thought, in view
of the wide publicity given the incident.
had decided to placate the late leader
and urge him to occupy again his old
| relationship TO the President in he
Senate.