The New York herald., 1920-01-16
TREATY FRIENDS
AND FOES MEET
IN CONFERENCE
All Factions Discuss Treaty
Together for First Time
Since Fight Began.
OPTIMISTS SEE
BETTER OUTLOOK
Fact That Such a Gathering
Could Be Held Regarded
as Encouraging.
BRYAN WANTS WALkOUT
Suggests Democrats Let Republicans
Ratify Treaty and Take All
Responsibility.
BRYAN WANTS WALKOUT
By DONALD A. CRAIG,
Herald Bureau,
No. 1,5O2 III Street, N. W.,
Washin gtOn, ID. c., Thursday.


For the first time since the beginning
OF efforts to ratify the peace treaty by
compromise a conference was held to-
day which holds promise of success
Nothing definite was accomplished
but the optimists took courage from
the fact that representatives Of prac.
tically every faction Of both parties in
the Senate were present.
Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts,
chairman OF the Foreign Relations
Committee. and sponsor of the Lodge
reservations to the treaty, held n formal
conference in his office with the fol-
lowing Senator's
New. of Indiana. closely allied with
the 'irreconcilable" Republican group
Jenroot, Republican, of Wisconsin. au-
thor OF the six-to-one reservation tc
the league covenant; Kellogg. of Min
nesota. representing the Republican
"mild reservationists;" Hitchcock, OF
Nebraska. spokesman of President Will
son; Mckellar. Of Tennessee, advocate
of the Bryan compromise scheme;
owen. of Oklahoma, Democrat, repre-
sentative of the 'leaderless" Demo
cratic compromisers, and Simmons, OF
North Carolina. an exponent of the
Democratic regular organization.
II Is from such conference as this. in
Guiding spokesnien of all factions. that n
compromise on the treaty must come. This
fact has given encouragement to members
tf both parties who are enXious for a
speedy restoration of peace, all Ough no
definite result was achieved today.
Bryan Proposes a WaI<out.
Two other important and unexpected
events added to the general confusion over
phc treaty. They were:--
First-William ]. Bryan. who said
that hc came to Washington primarily
TO take part in celebrating the final
downfall of John Barleycorn, spent
several hours corferring with Demo-
cratic and Republican Senators. He
proposed that the treaty deadlock be
broken by a walkout of enough Demo-
cratic Senator's to permit the Repub-
iican majority to ratfy the treaty
uron their own responsibility by two
thirds vote of those present" He
called attention to the fact that the
constitutional requirements applies only
TO two-thirds of n quorum.
Second-The Democratic caucus to
select a minority leader Of the Senate
resulte in a tie votee of 19 TO - be-
tween Senator Underwood. of Alabama.
advocate of immediate ratification by
compromise. and Senator Hitchcock.
of Nebraska, exponent OF the uncom-
promising attitude OF President Wilson.
The effect was notlceahly discoura ging
10 the Hitchcock forces, who had been
confident Of success.
Perhaps the most significant thing about
the conference In Senator Lodges office
was that Il was not initiated by the Re-
publicans, but that Senator Owen, the
latest wou'd-be leader Of the Democratic
rornpromisers. suggested 1t. Senator
Lodge offered no objection. He main
tanned his attitude of willingness to meet
the Democrats upon any basis OF COM
promise which will result In the ratifca-
lion Of the treaty so long as the Ameri-
canizing reservations are not materially
altered
AS usual. the deliberations centered upon
rrticIe X of the covenant of the League
of Nations. which. as signed by President
Wilson, would commit the United States
20 the protection. moral or legal, OF the
territorial integrity and political inde-
pendence of all OF the other members OF
the league. Senator Lodge stated again
the opinion of the Republican majority
that such obligation should never be ac-
accepted by the American people
Democrats Slow to Yield.
When these conferrees temporarily
adjourned, to meet again perhaps In a few
DAYS, they expressed for publication the
usual optimistic views But there was
stil no apparent disposition by any OF the
Democrats 10 ylelu altogether on TINS vita
point.
MFR. Bryans visit TO the Capitol caused
an unusual stir. There Is no doubt that
he hopes to organize the Democratic SEN
ators against the unylelding attitude OF
President Wilson on the peace treaty.
lie took his position in the public Scna-
torial lobby and received all comers-
Democrats. Republicans and casual visit
tors. IL was apparent that he made no
l..&,x, adj a nr la
fantastic scheme of settling the treaty
controversy by walkout of Democratic
Senators did not receive any great en-
couragement from the Democratic Sena-
tors. The Republicans seemed more will
ing 70 accept this solution of the problem.
When the real question that is in the
minds Of every American-what will Pres
ident Wilson do after the Senate has
noted OH the peace treaty was put TO
AR. Bryan, he said very frankly that
sCentinueJ ON rage Two. Col. Three