New-York tribune., 1919-12-20
Minority Caucus Is Called
OFF by Hitchcock; Move
to Clear Way for Agree
ment ON Reservations
MANY Democrats
Favor Concessions
Complete Understanding
on the Covenant Before
January Is Is Predicted
By Carter Field
NeU York Tribune
W0 0ebtu1too R.

WASHINGTON, Dec 19.-In the
interest of harmony on the peace
treaty the Democratic caucus.
which had been called for to-mor-
row morning to settle the Un-
derwood- Hitchcock leadership fight,
was called off tonight by Senator
Hitchcock, acting Administration
leader.
Hope that compromise on reser-
vations under which the treaty
could be ratified before January IS
was inspired by Senator Hitchcock's
announcement.
Meanwhile the Senate Foreign Re-
ations Committee, at meeting to-
morrow morning. will report out a
resolution declaring peace, Senator
Lodge, majority leader and chair
man of the committee, said tonight.
Just what form the resolution will
take will depend on the outcome of
battle in committee tomorrow, but
one of the points of difficulty has
been smoothed away by the agree
ment that it will be Joint, and not
concurrent. resolution. A Joint
resolution will require the signature
of the President, while a concurrent
resolution would not require the Ex-
ecutive signature. There is a diff
ference of opinion as to whether a
concurrent resolution would be a
constitutional means of ending the
war status.
Resolution Goes Over Holidays
There is no intention to press the
peace resolution until after the holi-
days Senator Lodge said. 1t is ex-
pected that a recess will be taken to-
morrow, if plans on the railroad and
sugar legislation are agreed on.
There is disposition on the part of
some members of the committee to
make the peace resolution a ratifica-
tlon of the peace treaty, with the eX-
ception of the league Of nations cove
nant. Apparently there is more
strength behind the proposal, however,
to follow the idea Of the Knox resolu-
ton, providing for ratification of the
treaty only IN so far as it establishes
status of peace between the United
States and Germany. This would leave
out any Endorsement by the Senate OF
the Shantung settlement. the league
OF nations, the labor clauses and inter
national labor conference set up by
the treaty, the Saar Basin settlement,
the Polish Corridor and various other
sections which are offensive to many
Senator's
A stout fight along these lines will
be made by the irreconcila BILE" ele
ment, which is very strong on the Re-
publican side of the committee.
Lodge Not Sure of Details
All that Mr.. Lodge could be sure of
tonight was that "a" peace resolution
would be reported.
There are many evidences, however,
that before the peace resolution ever
reaches a vote in the Senate the Dem
ocratic Senator'S will have reached an
agreement OH accepting reservations
which will permit the ratification Of
the treaty.
II find very few Democrats who are
not in favor of ratfying the treaty
with effective reservations" said Sen
ator Hoke Smith, who made a plea on
tne floor for harmony, and for both
sldes to stop "playing politics with
tne treaty" on Wednesday. There is
no n, doubt in my mind that very shortly
.he stage will be reached when a com
promise may be had with the Repub-
ncan advocates of reservations and
the treaty ratified"
ms view is prevalent among Demo
Jlalc Senators. Many Senators who
~ hot agree with William Jennings
thiysh about other things say it would
pe oetter politics for the Democratic
paily 10 get the treaty out Of the way
tene .enore convention time. They do not
ao.ow MIR. Bryan to the point that
government ownership should be the
D,enocratlc issue, but they are not
phleased with the idea of fight to
u. snow That the "Americanizing" reser-
saI',ls ssa.ions approved by the Senate would
hy hnull'ly the treaty. Down in their
hearts many of them think it would be
uncut job on the stump.
Action Soothes Democrats
I'M. Inc calling off of the Democratic
uJuCus ,,h. smoothes away situation
which might have resulted in wide
spen n breach on the treaty, especially
sS;1 sS .ne personal feeling in the leader
ZIP S;aP battle has been running rather
rh nLgn. The Underwood people have
enarged that Mr.. Hitchcock called the
sssueus at time when at least four
Nr.alcrs nv. pledged to Underwood were
Eus OF town, and after an understand
.hhg that no caucus would be held on
days. N"''' aver '"e "o''-
senator Hitchcock attempted to pla-
a.e og MS opponents on this point by
onerlng to pair his adherents with alb
!" ;en' underwood men, although pairing
.oas - no' usually permitted at Democratic
ttohierences. This offer. made direct
70 me Underwood managers by Sens-
ss sors Cham mberlain and Ashurst on be
tha ''' 9l Mr. Hitchcock. VISA refused by
s"e Underwood men, who declared.