New-York tribune., 1919-07-12
Washington Hears Presi.
dents Chief Treaty and
League Champion Has De-
serted; Swanson to Lead
Will Explain Treaty
Executive to Go Before
Foreign Relations Com.
mittee to Clarity Terms
By Carter Field
Ne1n York Tribune
Wdshin0ton Burean

WASHINGTON, July 11.-Presdent
Wilson's confidence that the Senate
will ratify the treaty without reserva-
tions was not reflected in Adfninstra-
ton ranks in the Senate to-day. Ac-
cording to many Senators on both
sides, the Presidents fight was meas
urably weakened by what amounts to
change of leadership. Senator Hitch
cock, ranking Democrat on the For
eign Relations Committee and acting
leader In the absence of Senator Mar
tin on account of illness, is reported
not only to have been ignored by the
President yesterday, but deliberately So.
The Nebraska Senator called at The
White House with the special commit
tee to notify the President that the
Senate would hear him. Not only was
there no invitation from Mr.. Wilson
to discuss the situation, but, according
to one member of the committee, the
Hitchcock.
Friends Say He's Angry
Friends of the Nebraska Senator de-
clared to-day that he was more angry
than they had ever seen him on his
Presidents address and Immediately
left Washington for the Massachusetts
coast to spend the weekend. AS told
in The Tribune this morning his leav-
ing without a chance to go over the
situation with the President, whose fight
he has been leading since the first trip
of Mr.. Wilson to France, caused much
clared by many Senators that Mr.. Hitch
cock himself regarded it as impossible
for him to go on leading the fight for
the league Of nations and the peace
treaty.
Senator Swanson of Virginia, the
third ranking Democrat on the Foreign
Relations Committee, will lead the fight
from now on, it is declared, although
Mr.. Swanson himself disavows this.
"There is not word of truth in it,"
said MI. Swanson. Senator Hitch
cock is ranking Democrat on the For
eign Relations Committee. He can
do more effective work for the league
than any of the rest of u.s."
Mr.. Swanson hurried on to explain
that, while he had held conference
with the President yesterday, it was
to urge Mr.. Wilson to speak at a con-
vehtion in Richmond on July 80.
Swanson Taken Seriously
The leadership of Senator Swanson,
however, is taken very seriously by
Senator'S of both parties. They do
not believe that Mr.. Hitchcock will
be placated. Most Of them do not be-
lieve the President will make any eff
fort to placate him. The Nebraska
Senator is bound hand and foot, it is
pointed out, by his speeches on the
almost every portion of the peace
treaty. They say the President real
ICES this and, never having liked SEN
ator Hitchcock personally, is not will
ing for him to have the credit of
leading the Administration fight.
The relations between the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Hitchcock never have
run smoothly. When Mr. Wilson first
came into the White House he ap-
pointed William Jennings Bryan,
Hitchcock's bitterest political enemy
in Nebraska politics, as Secretary of
State. Thereafter the Senator was
all Of the plums which might aid in
building up q political organizatio
going to the Bryan crowd, while the
Hitchcock recommendations were ig-
nored. At one time Mr. Hitchcock
Joined Senators Reed, of Missouri
MARITIME, of New Jersey; O'Gorman,
of New York, and several others in
IcJcCClUB HOIllIdllOnS ScnC 10 tne Oen-
ate by the President.
Led Fight for War
After Mr.. Bryan resigned from the
Cabinet there began an era of better
feeling between Mr.. Hitchcock and the
President, and finally the Nebraska
Senator led the Presidents fight for
the armed neutrality bill, which was
talked to death by the twelve "wilful
men," Then he led the fight for the
declaration of war. Everything was
serene until he joined Senator Cham
berlain, the chairman of the Military
Affairs Committee, in denounclng what
they regarded as War Department in
efficiency. President Wilson was
scathing in the language he applied
to both Senators, though he singled
out Mr.. hamberlain particularly.
1t is believed by Senators that the
President never has forgiven Mr.. Hitch
cock for the terrible arraignment of
the War Department which he deliv-
cred in the Senate shortly after the
Presidents sharp note criticising SEN
ator Chamberlain.
In view Of the Presdent's statement
yesterday, there seems little doubt
now that he will appear before the For
elgn Relations Committee, perhaps
three or four times, to answer ques-
IioHS WIN IeSaru 10 tne various sec
tons not only of the league of ma
tions but the treaty itself.
Committee Meets Monday
The committee will meet on Monday,
and meantime it is understood the Re-
publican leaders will frame some sort
of programme. Chairman Lodge, of
the committee, did not personally favor
having the President before the com
mittec, although it is expected he will
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