Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-15
MAKE DEMOCRATS OFFER
OF QUICK ACTION TO GET
RESERVATIONS TO TREATY
G.. o. P. Proposal Big Sur
prise-Senators Will
Meet Wilson.

/
~ Republican senators are
ready for quick ratification Of
the peace treaty with reseFva-
tiOns, Democratic leaders in the
senate we're Informed today by
leaders OF the Republican
group of reservation adVOcates.
Republicans favoring reserva-
tions said a poll disclosed that up
wards Of 20 senators of their party
would support reservations along
the general lines laid down by tho
seven Republicans II the treaty
could be brought promptly out OF
committee and ratified on that
basis.
Upsets Plans.
Although Senator Hitchcock, Ne
braska, the administration leader,
still disclsimed any part in the
negotiations FIR a settlement, IL was
apparent that the move had reach
ed proportions which might threat
en- the plans of the committee for
calling additional witnesses and
prolonging consideration Of the
treaty.
Senator Hitchcock had an ap-
pointment 10 see President Wilson
at the White House late tocay and
was expected to lay before him
the whole senate situation especial
ly as regards prompt action, The
administration leader declined 10
say whether he would suggest a
change in the announced stand OF
the administration against reserYa-
tions.
Proceedings to BE Public.
Stenographic records viii be
made of the conference between
/ President Wilson and the senate
foreign relations committee at the
White house Tuesday for discus
sion OF the peace treaty. Chairman
Lodge was so informed In a letter
from the president. made public
today.
The president said he would have
a stenographer present in order
that the committee might have "a
full and trustworthy record OF what
is said" and suggested that the
committee also have stenographer
present. II was understood that the
official transcript would be made
public.
Presidents Letter.
The presidents letter 10 Senator
Lodge said:
u have received your letter OF
yesterday and in reply hasten 10
express the hope that the senate
committee on foreign relations will
give me the pleasure of seeing them
at the White house on Tuesday
morning next, the 18th, at ~
o'clock.
81 also welcome the suggestion
OF the committee that nothing said
at the conference shall be regarded
as confidential. In order that the
committee may have a fun and
Trustworthy record Of what is said.
shall have a stenographer pres
ent, and take the liberty Of suggest
ing that If yOu should wish 10 bring
one, OF the committees stenograph
ers with you, that would be entire
ly agreeable to me The presence
Of the two stenographers would
Tighten the work.
Glad Of Opportunity.
1T will be most agreeable to me
10 have an opportunity 10 tell tho
committee anything that may be
serviceable to them in their consid-
GRAFTON of the treaty"
The meeting will take place I'm
the blue room OF the White house
and II was expected that the steno-
graphic reports OF the converse
tions would be taken in relays. so
that transcripts might be had for
the press every few minutes
Fullest Publicity.
The peace treaty and the League
OF Nations will be discussed hv
President Wilson and the senate
foreign relations committee mem
bers at the White house next Tues
day. Fullest publicity viii be Civ
en- 10 the discussions under an as
surance conveyed 10 Senator
Lodge today by the president.
Responding to the committee
desire that no ban OF secrecy or
confidence be placed on the confer
ence. the president wrote Senator
Lodge that he was heartily in IA
vor OF letting the people Of the
country know everything that
transplred.
Earliest Date Possible Chosen.
It was considered unlikely that
the public would be admitted by
White house officials. and members
OF the committee declared that
they would 90 TO great lengths 20
have the details of the converse
tions made known. Tuesday was
set for the conference by the pres
ident after Senator Lodge had re-
quested that no earlier date be Sc
lected because OF the absence OF
some OF the committee members.
PLANE FALLS; KILLS THREE.
Baltimore. Md. Aug. 15.-Three
children were killed when an air
plane crashed into a fence behind