The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-24

CHIEFS ARE
APPROACHED
BY WM.TAFT
Former President Writes
Prominent Democrats In Ef-
fort to Get Middle Ground
for Treaty Acceptance.
PLANS RESERVATIONS
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, July :4.-Former
president, Taft. who has written to
several Republican senators and lead
ers suggesting reservations to the
peace treaty which might be accepta-
Die to both sides, has opened cores
pondence on the subject with prom
lnent Democratic senators. Senator
Hitchcock of Nebraska, one of the
leading spokesmen for the administra-
uon in the senate fight received a
letter today from Mr.. Taft
Mr.. Taft's suggestion, to Republi-
cans which created a sensation in the
senate because Of his we,!-known ad-
vocacy of unreserved ratification, was
embodied in two letters to Will H.
Hays, Republican national chairman.
copies of which reached some Republi-
can senators today. They touched
upon many features of the treaty con-
troversy and emphasized the former
Presidents belief that only by accep-
tance of some reservations could the
treaty be ratified.
Six specific Interpretation proposals
are outlined. which Mr.. Taft says he
is convinced will meet the objections
OF large group of Republicans who
Ao'OA I1C ACoSoC. Ilc SOUulS lOIIy-uFS
Democratic Senators as supporting
the President in the treaty fight and
says that should three Republicans
be committed to vote against material
| amendments no such proposals could
| meet a Senate majority.
Criticizes Wilson
The former President suggested to
Mr.. Hays that his name be Withheld
| for the present from connection with
| the Interpretation plan since it might
| antagoniZe some Senators Of his party.
| Chairman Lodge Of the foreign rela-
tions committee. who Is named In that
connection, declined today to make
any comment on the Taft letter
| Mr.. Taft also has written to some Of
the Republican Senators who, under
the leadership of Senator McCumber
of North Dakota. and McNary Of Ore
gon, have been interested in formulat-
ing a middle course of the Senate
situation. 1t is understood that Senac
tors Kellogg of Minnesota. Colt Of
Rhode Island and Spencer of Mis-
souri, also have been consulted In the
interest of such a plan.
In one Of his letters to Mr.. Hays,
Mr.. Taft severly criticised President
Wilson for his partisan" course dur
|
tiations. and In the other gave the
impression that no serious opposition
IS to be feared to any portion Of the
peace treaty except the league cove
nant The Shantung provision, he
wrote, had been the subject Of "denb-
crate exaggeration."
LETTERS NOT ARRIVED.
INDIANAPOLIS, July 24-Letters
. from former President William H.
Taft. mentioned IN last nights Wash.
ington news dispatches as having
been written to VIII II. Hays, Repub-
1ican national chairman on the Q1es-
ton of ratification Of the peace treaty
by the senate, have not as yet reached
} Mr.. Hays, he said here today when
asked about them.
Il have never seen the letters from
President Taft. mentioned in the
Washington dispatches" Mr.. Hays de-
clared. They had not been received
when left for the west. Tuesday by;
understand were received Wednes
day afternoon and have been forward
ed to me- They have not reached me-
Neither the originals DOR any COPY
thereof have been given 10 or shown
to anyone by me nor by anyone con
: nected in any way with the commit
tee. I know nothing whatever abou,
their publication. have bson IN
touch, by correspondence and other
wise, with Mr.. Taft on this matter, OF
, course, as web as with others In the
effort to help develop a solution Of
this matter in the right, but these let
ters ] have never seen"