New-York tribune., 1919-12-15

has been lighting for 'conciliation
committee" or compromise group OF
some sort.
Mr.. Underwood suggested even that
the President might name a group of
men who could confer with Senator
Lodge and work out a compromise
This position of the Alabama Senator,
however, is "left we'll out on limb"
by the President, as the Republican
Senators look at the situation.
Senator Underwood could not be
reached tonight, but his rival for the
Democratic leadership Senator Hitch
cock, took the position that the Presi-
dent has sustained MIR. Underwood's
contention.
The "irreconcilables," seldom en-
tirely optimistic about anything, pro-
fessed to be Worried more about the
sihfluences" being brought to bear on
the Senate in favor of the ratification
Of the treaty than about the Under
wood moves toward compromise.
They are very much pleased about the
Presidents statement, but there is a
II.
as indicated by MIR. Borah's hope that
"he sticks to it,
The "irreconclables," incidentally,
are seriously torn as to whether it
would be advisable for them to "swal-
low" the rest of the treaty for the
sake of getting rid of the league of
nations and push the proposal of Sen
ator Knox, of Pennsylvania. one Of
their number. for the approval of the
(D~ <,hl t<,ko
between the United States and Ger
many.
Campaign Issue Foreseen
Into the midst of their consideration
Of this question, with perhaps little
slant toward agreeing with Senator
Knox, if enough Democrats will follow
Mr.. Underwood in joining TO put it
through, comes the Presidents state
ment, giving them renewed hope of
beating the whole business
The net effect of the President s
statement on the "irreconcilables. :"
therefore, will be apparently to keep
them in line against any peace move
except straight resolution declaring
peace.
There is some surprise here tonight
that the President made the issue so
clearly political in his statement. His
assertion that the responsibility, so far
he is concerned, VIII continue to
rest on Republican Senators is taken
by the Republicans to mean that the
President himself is anxious to carr
the treaty and league of nations issue
into the campHign.
Third Term Talk Revived
incidentally. in connection with this
and the continued Improvement in the
Presidents health reported, there was
some talk tonight for the first time
since his breakdown in Sept ember that
after all Mr.. Wilson might be the can
d date of his party for third term on
the league of nations issue.
The real friends of the treaty, in
cluding Senator Lenroot point out that
the treaty should not be made par
tisan issue Attention is ca led to the
fact that seven Democratic Senators
out of forty-seven voted against rati-
tication of the treaty without reserva-
ons. These were Reed. Gore, Shields,
We sh Massachusetts,, Thomas, Tram
nell and Smith (Georgia). One Repub-
lican Senator, McCumber, of North
Dakota. voted to ratfy without reser-
vatons.
But many Republicans Joined Senator
Lenroot in pointing out that no polt-
cal party has a two-thirds m jority in
he Serate, and therefore the treaty
must be ratified, if at all, by non
partisan vote.
If the President carries the league
of nations into the campaign, stand
ing on his letter to the Democratic
Senators in caucus demanding the
treaty be rejected with the Lodge re-
servations, and standing also on his
statement tonight that he has no con-
cessions compromises in mind, he
will leave these seven important
Democratic Senators outside the party
breastworks.
Compromise Campaign Probable
Further, he will seriously embarrass
Senators Owen, Of oklahoma, and
Pomerene. OF Ohio, who voted for
ratification with the Lodge reservations
after they had seen the motion to
ratify without reservations killed
1t seems probable tonight that the
Democrats in the Senate will continue
to work for a compromise. with view
TO having the Senate ratfy the treaty
on the best terms obtainable from the
Republicans. and that eventually they
ators, who will not permit the coupling
of their names with the statement
say they think this process Of com
promise will be delayed considerably
by the Presidents statement tonight,
since they believe it will have the ef
1o,, o sVitienn G resistance the
Republicans, VINO now believe that the
President has assumed responsibility
before the county.
The Presidents position. these
Democrats fear. may 6 We an excuse
to some OF the Repub lcan Senators
who would secretly like to see the
treaty killed. but who have never open
ly admitted it, not to compromise.
Another element of dancer in the