The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-24
TAFT WRITES
TO DEMOCRATS
Republican National Chairman
Refuses to Discuss Taft's
Plan for "MiddIe Ground"
HITCHCOCK GETS LETTER
Work Of Forming Reservation
Program Along Lines Sug-
gested Already Begun.

Washington, July 24.-For-
mer President Taft, who had
written to several republican
senators and leaders suggesting
reservations. to the peace treaty
which might be acceptable to
both sides, has opened CORE
spondence on the subject with
prominent democratic senators.
Senator Hitchcock, of Nebraska,
one of the leading spokesmen
for the administration in the
senate fight, received letter to-
day from Mr.. Taft.
Hays Never Saw Letter.
indianapolis, July 24.-(A. P.)-
Letters from former President
Taft, mentioned in last nights
Washington news dispatches as
having been written to Will H.
Hays, republican national chair
man, on the question of the rati-
fioation Of the peace treaty by
the senate have not as yet
reached Mr.. Hays, he said here
today whom asked about them.
Il have never seen the letters from
Mr.. Taft, mentioned in the Wash
ington dispatches" Mr.. Hays de-
clared. "rhey had not been received
yuh 4 loft for fhN ct hut
understood were received Wednes-
day afternoon and have been for
warded to me. They have not reached
me. Neither the originals nor any
copy thereof have been given to nor
shown TO anyone by me nor by any
one connected in any way with the
committee. / know nothing whatever
about their publication. / have been
in touch by correspondence and
otherwise, with Mr., Taft on this mat
ter, of course. as well as with others
who helped develop solution of this
matter in the right but these par
ticular letters have never seen"
Republicans Augment Efforts.
Washington, July 24.-(A. P)-
Encouraged by the suggestion of for
mer President Taft for certain inter
III SNnhLt 1tCtptdbtt VI
the peace treaty, republican senators
working out program of interpre-
tive reservations increased their ac-
tivity today to bring together admin
istra tion leaders and republicans fa-
voring the league idea so that the |
league of nations may be accepted |
vital notifications.
Wrote Other Senators.
Although Senators McNary, Ore
gon, McCumber, North Dakota, and |
others conditionally favoring the |
league expressed confidence that in !
the end most of the democrats and /
many republicans would unite on a !
middle ground, the democratic lead |
ers remained unchanged in their at |
titude favoring unreserved ratifica- |
ton.
The senate had in store another |
day of debate on the treaty and the |,
foreign relations committee planned |
to continue its reading of the long |
but the major interest !
centered in the informal discussions !
among senators about reservations |
and Mr.. Taft's suggestions along that !
line.
These suggestions, the first to come |
from the former president in sup
port of reservations, became gener-
ally known yesterday through receipt !
Of copies of letters written by Mr., |
Taft to Will H. Hays, the republican !
national chairman. II was learned,
however, that he also had written
Senators McNary, McCumber and /
others who have favored the league .
idea, and 1t was understood the work
Of framing a definite reservation pro-
gram along the lines suggested was
well under way.
President Wilson had no engage
nents today with republican senators
for discussion of the treaty and the
league covenant. Senators visiting
he White House yesterday were the
last on the list of fifteen selected by
the president, but it was said that
invitations to other senators would
20 forward, as Mr.. Wilson desired to
confer with as many of them as pos
sible before starting on his speaking
tour.
Wilson Knew Of Letters. |
President Wilson's advisers said
.oday that the president had known
ior several days Of the existence of
he letters of former President Taft
reservations on the peace
treaty Some of the senators with
whom Mr.. Wilson has conferred re-
Gently have been in communication
with Mr.. Taft on the subject of res
ervations and it was assured that the
'ormer presidents suggestions were
discussed at some of the White
House conferences.