Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-27
MILD SENATORS
MAY DESERT LODGE
Notify Leader They Will Work
Independently Unless Action
Is Taken
DEMOCRATS FESTIVE, TOO

Washington. Dec. Dissatisfied
with the progress made toward solution
of the peace treaty tanglc. senators of
both political nartics moved yesterday
to bring greater pressure on their party
leaders for a compromise TO insure rati
fcatiop promptly on the rcusscmbiug of
Congress early in January.
The mild reservation group OF Rcpub-
licans, notifying their rarty leader.
Senator Lodge. that in their opinion
the time had come tn part company
with the irreconcilabc foes of the
treaty, declared that unless compromise
negotiations got more whole hearted
s support from the Republican side they
were preparing TO act independently for
an agreement with the Democrats.
Among the Democrats the movement
was not so we'll defined. but criticism
OF the course of President Wilson and
Senator Hitchcock. acting Democratic
leader. reached proportions where some
predicted that il soon would be given
tangible form. Que prominent Demo
cratic senator was said to have told the
Republicans that more than thirty Of
the forty seven on that side would Join
a movement to ratify the treaty at once
on the best terms they could get.
Conference Is Fruitless
The effect was a scrambled situation
In both party organizations. which the
leaders seemed confident they could
straighten out, but which the compro-
mise advocates predicted would greatly
strengthen the movement for a bipar-
tisan conference of those determined to
ratify the treaty even at the expense
OF. material concessions on both sides.
The feeling among those who are
ready to go ahead without their leaders
seemed TO be that the treaty deadlock
already had been prolonged unneces-
sarily by too much mo compromise
talk, and that both sides had over.
played waiting game in the hope that
break would come in the opposition.
After their conference Sunday with
Mr.. Lodge. the mild reservation Repub-
ltcaps seemed confident he would take
the initiative. il necessary, in carrying
the compromise negotiations forward
On Monday he saw Senator Underwood
prominent Democratic advocate of a
compromise, but it was said today their
talk got nowhere.
Meantime, it became known that the
irreconcilable group Of Republicans
had been bringing pressure to bear
to induce the party i eader not to con
sent to Gny compromise proposals
which did not meet their approval. Sen
ator johnson, one of the leaders Of
that group, telegraphed he would
change his plans and return to the
capital from his home state uext week.
In the Democratic ranks the treaty
situation is complicated by the contest
between Senator's Hitchcock and I'm
derwood for choice as party leader.
I much of the talk for bipartisan agree ..
ment coming from the Underwood sup
porters. The party caucus has been
called for January 10 to elect a leader.
and in the meantime Republicans and
Democrats apparently are doubtful as
to who can speak with authority Oh the
Democratic side.
All Elements Confident
Senator Hitchcock repeatedly has de-
clared his willingness to make any
compromise which does not vitally harm
Z the treaty, but has indicated he expects
the next move to come from the Re
publican side. Senator Lodge also has
said he would not oppose a compromise
so long as the foreign relations com
mittee reservations are not vitaly i'm
4 paired though he considers that the
next move is up to the Democrats
1t is with that situation the biparti-
san movement is calculated to deal. its
hackers saying neither side should stand
upon formality, but should earnestly try
to ratify at once. The strength of the
movement could not be estimated yester-
day, but it was suggested that even if it
could not muster the necessary two
thirds to ratify at first, it might get a
majority which could bring the treaty
again before the Senate and center pub
lie interest upon it and upon such com
promise reservations as might be agreed
upon.
So the immediate compromise advo
Gates predicted success for their enter
prise. Senator Hitchcock expressed con 9.
fidence his own compromise plan would
win Senator Lodge asserted the com
mittee reservations would be accepted
without material change, and the ir-
xecopcilables said there would be 10
compromise at all.