The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-23
Scrupulative Talk Around
Washington Indicates
Strong Belief Controversy
Will Become Campaign
Issue.
SEN. LODGE ACCUSED
OF PLAYING POLITICS
Senator Hitchcock Asserts
Question is one of Partl-
sanship Or P oliti c s.
Would Garry Issue to
People if Republicans In
sist.

Washington. Nov. 22.-Whether fur
ther compromise efforts are to be
made to ratify the peace treaty, or the
the whole controversy thrown into the
1920 presidential campaign for, deci-
sion, was n question which aroused
speculation today in official and poll
tical circles.
1t was agreed everywhere that the
statement issued last night by Sena-
tor Lodge, the Republican senate
leader, declaring the time for COM
promise had passed and that it was
his desire that the majority reser-
vation program be carried into the
campaign, had advanced materially
the movement to leave the treaty sit
and give the people chance to decide
the issue next year.
The first expressions of administra-
ton senators regarding the statement
We're defiant in tone though they still
predicted that before the campaign
began the republicans would come into
compromise agreement that would
make ratification possible.
Senator Hitchcock. the acting ad-
ministration leader, declared that
while the democrats would be loath to
see the treaty made a political issue.
they would accept it, if the repub-
licans insisted, with entire confidence
of the outcome. @
'Tf the republican leader wants to
make political issue" said Mr. Hitch
cock, "of course he will not COM
promise But If he really wants tho
treaty ratified, he will make reason
able effort to compromise.
The question is one of partisanship
or patriotism.
Senator Hitchcock predicted that
President Wilson would re-submit the
treaty at the beginning of the next
session of congress on December /, and
that compromise would result. It
was admitted by the administration
leaders, however, that they had no
definite assurance the president would
prefer that course to a postponement.
Secretary Tumulty issued state
ment today emphasizing the fact that
no breach had occurred between Presi-
dent Wilson and Senator Hitchcock
He characterized. the 1atter's leadership
IN the treaty fight as mastery" and
satisfactory to all friends of the ad-
ministration.
The secretary also denied that the
president was taking sides in any con-
test over the minority leadership in
the senate.
The statement said:
The statement carried in certain
newspapers that there has beeh q
breach between the president and Sem
ator Hitchcock Is not true. Senator.
Hitchcock's management of the recent
contest over the ratification of the
treaty OF peace was mastery. and was
satisfactory to all the friends of the
administration. No one is more ap-
preciative of Senator Hitchcock's fine
efforts than the president himself.
The statement that the president
Is taking sides in any contest over
the leadership of the minority of the
senate is wholly without foundation.
The object of such a statement can
only be to create discord among the
friends OF the treaty"
Washington. Nov. 22.-Democratic
Leader Hitchcock in statement re-
plying to the declaration of Republican
Leader Lodge that the peace treaty is
sues had been settled in the coming
campaign, said today that he was con-
ftdent compromise would be worked
out by which ratification could be Sc
cured.
Senator Lodge expresses and ar
dent wish to carry the treaty and the
reservations which the senate defeated
into the campaign as an issue.
Il regret to say that Senator Lodge
Is evidently thinking more of politics
than he is Of patriotism
To my mind the highest interests
OF the United States and of the world
demand ratification OF the treaty.
The reservations to which Senator
Lodge refers did not even receive a
majority vote Of the senate, although
the party which Senator Lodge leads
controls the senate. His party is split
on ratification In the senate as well
as throughout the country The reser-
vations We're not framed for the pur-
pose OF ratifying the treaty. They
were framed for the purpose of max
ing 1t impossible for many supporters
OF the treaty to vote for ratification
in that form.
ssThe reservations were supported by
fifteen senators who would not vote