Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-20
Is Generally Conceded
None Will Be Adopt
ed ReservatiOnists
Claim Decisive Ma
jority - Predictions
on Final Vote Vary
from 10 Days to Six
Weeks

Washington, Oct. 19-The long
treaty fight in the Senate is about to
! enter it's final phase. Leaders hope
during the coming week to clear
away all proposed amendments and
make substantial progress in the
framing of ratification resolution.
Virtually conceding that no
amendments will be adopted. the OPP
position managers are determined to
! qualify the ratifying resolution with
reservations and Senator Lodge. the
Republican leader. declared in a
statement tonight that a decisive
majority would stand for reserva-
tions that would be "unequivocal and
effective"
Privately the opposition leaders
declared that Mr.. Lodges claim was
backed by an understanding amount
ing virtually to complete agree
ment among all Of the forty.nine Re-
publicans and six Democrats to
stand together for a reservation pro-
gram evolved after many weeks of
conferences.
1t was said not all Of the details
! had been agreed upon. though on
general principles and in some cases
on phraseology itself the fifty five
senators had been brought very
close together.
How far the remaining forty-one
to reservations is an uncertain ques-
ton. even in the minds Of some of
their leaders. They have stood I'M
| swervingly through the long fight for
! President Wilson's program of rati-
fication that would not require the
| treaty's re-submission to the other
powers. But it is for the President
himself to decide finally whether
any reservations adopted do require
such re-submission and his illness
has left the administration leader
somewhat in the dark.
There have been intimations that
should reservations unacceptable to
the administration be put into the
ratification resolution the admin
istration forces would vote mo" on
the ratification roll call, but their
leaders are not ready to say how
they will cross that bridge until they
| come to it. 1t would take only SO
votes to prevent ratification.
In his a'ement tonight Senator
Lcd,e Geclate ed that opponents Of res
erN atons would be responsible for any
fur her delay in Senate action, indicat-
ing that the whip would be applied t.
hell down debate. Quick action is a
slogan Of the administration forces.
but how Ear the leaders of the two par.
ties can go in stemming the tild of
talk is very uncertain. Their hope is to
ct star Ell tomo: row en- the last of the
&C mmttee amenf ments. proposing
ca ization OF voting power in the
League Of Nations, and to dispose Of
them within a day or two.
Senator Lodges statement. made pub
lie after he had talked over the situa-
tion with a number Of Republican and
Democratic reservationists. follows: -
"a decisive majority Of the Senate
will vote for reservations attached to
the resolution Of ratification, which will
FRO ect the peace. safety. sovereignty
nd independence of the United Staes
THE enc object of these senators is
70 Americanize the treaty and they be-
lieve that by SO doing they will also
serve the case Of general peace Of the
! worll. Whatever Ge.ay there may be
| j., final action upon the treaty will be
caused by those who are resisting the
! Americanization Of the treaty by proper
| res MISREPRESENTATION at once I'M
equivo cal and effective
The two amendments for equalization
Of voting strength in the league may
! Re cons dered together for the sake Of
expedition. though it is thought more
, likely that the one proposed by Senator
johnson. Republican,. California. to give
TIE United States six votes in the league
assembly will be taken up first. The
her is by Senator Moses. Republican,
; New Hampshire, and would prevent
Eri ish dominions from sitting in tho
lGague council.
About three hours work remains t.
finish the formal reading Of the treaty
| text. and 1t 10 the purpose to take up
these two amendments Immediately aft.
erwari. A vote may come Tuesday or
Wednesday. and the general prediction
10 that both Of the proposals. as we'll
as other amendments to be offered by
individual senators later, will be de-
fea:ed.
While formal cons 'deration Of reser-
vations VII not be undertaken until all
amendments are out OF the way. the
conferences regarding them are to con-
tinue daily this week and substantial
rrcg ress is hoped for. When the final
vote VII come is another question:
some s~nators say within 10 days and
some say it will be six weeks.