Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-22
Senators of Both Parties
Hold That a Compromise
Will Be Effected.
Mr.. LODGE SEEN V0ICiNG
VIEWS OF EXTREMISTS
G. o. P. and Democratic Statesmen
Averse to Delaying Peace Dec
laration Until Dec. 1920.
By \. o. MESSENGER.

Cautious-minded men of both
parties in the Senate are disposed to
hold that it will not be necessary to
submit the league of nations question
TO settlement at the polls, believing
that recourse to such last resort
will be obviated by compromise in
TIE Senate. The suggestion of Sen
alor Lodge is regarded as voicing the
views of the extreme opponents of
the league in any form, rather than
what is believed to be the prepoR-
6eratiue sentiment in the Senate, IA
yorable to a league OF nations in some
form.
Tnere is reason TO believe that
President Wilson has been advised,
since the action in the Senate, ny al
ministration senators whose Opinions
he respects, that a little yielding on
his part will bring about a compro-
mise. and that, in their opinion, Two
thirds of the Senate will prefer
compromise to carrying the question:
into the elections. What decision the
President may reach upon this sug-
Eestion, which is said to have been
made TO him, probably will not be
disclosed for the present.
League With Reservations Favored.
1t is foreseen by many senators that
the next contest in the Senate Will
come between the weuid-bo killers"
of the league and combination of
democrats and republicans who would
set up a league, retaining the essen
tial features of the reservations
adopted by, a majority of the Senate
heretofore.
Not even the most fatuous senatorial
supporter of the league in its first
form now entertains hope that any
reversal OF. sentiment in the Senate or
any pressure from the country, or
from any outside source, can COM
mand two-thirds vote in the Sen
ate for the original covenant Bar.
ring the battalion of DEATH" it is
thought that senators are generally
convinced that the majority feeling In
the country at targets for league
OF nations-with reservations.
Parties Might @stradd1e'' Question.
Certain difficulties in submitting the
issue to the voters at the polls are
foreseen. 1t could only be done by
the two great parties pronouncing
upon the question in their national
platforms, and right there the frs.
hurdle would be approached. It is
pointed out that both platforms
might generalize upon the ISSUE
might "straddle" it in such way, as
to perplex the voters
For instance, it is argued, would the
republican, platform take the Lodge
reservations as they are written and
pledge the republican party to stand
OF fall upon them? And, would the
democrats have the temerity to declare
in their platform that all the propo-
Sitions looking to the so-calied Amer
icanizng" of the covenant are an
athena and must be rejected In toto?
Are Averse to Postponing Peace.
But over and above such academic
discussion is the existent fact that
most of the senator's in the two par
ties are averse to carrying the issue to
the polls, thereby postponing formal
declaration Of peace until the assem-
bling of Congress one year from next
December. This attitude is expected
to De the controlling force to bring
about compromise and ratification of
tire treaty, with reservations to the
covenant.
Senators May Not Stay Regular
Here is another point: Ii is known
that number of democratic senators
followed President Wilson to the de-
feating of the treaty virtually under
protest and only to preserve party reg
uiarity. They had preferred a COM
promise, but were overborne by the
executive. 1t is said to be a serious
question how long they will stand out
In an irreconcilable position, such as
would send the issue to the elections