New-York tribune., 1920-01-12
Minority Leaders Resolve
to Deal With Repub-
licans L ooking to
pee dy Ratification
Lodge Proposals
Accepted as Basis
Hitchcock and Under
wood, Rivals for Floor
Honors, Vote With Con-
ferees for Cancellation
NesO York Tribune
Wdshi,1Of0n Rnre0.e

NesD York Tribune
Washington Burenw
WASHINGTON, Jan. IL. The
Democrats in the Senate decided to-
night to disregard President Will
sons plea to the Democratic lead
ers at the Jackson Day dinner to
make the peace treaty the issue of
the Presidential election. They will
approach the Republicans in truly
conciliatory spirit" as they ex-
pressed it, and do everything they
can to effect compromise on res
elvations that will secure ratifica-
tion Of the treaty without delay.
The decision was reached at
conference tonight of more than
twenty Democratic Senators. Sen
ator Hitchcock, of Nebraska. leader
Of the Administration forces in the
Senate, and Senator Underwood, Of
Alabama, his opponent for the po-
sition of Democratic floor leader in
the Senate, attended the conference
and gave the decision their sanction.
Some Who Attended
Other Senators who were present
included Senators Owen, Of Okla
homa; Smith, Of Georgia; Harrison,
Of Mississippi; Dial, of South Caro-
lima; Pomerene, of Ohio; McKellar,
of Tennessee, and Kendrick, of
Wyoming.
The Lodge reservations will be ac-
cepted by the Democrats as the
basis for a compromise. Specific
changes in the Lodge reservations
that will be submitted to the Re-
publicans as a substitute for the
plan submitted last Tuesday by Sem
ators Mcclellan and Kendrick were
discussed at the meeting tonight,
but they will not be made public
until after they have been discussed
with the Republicans.
The Republicans will be asked TO
modify the Lodge reservations to make
them reasonable" as one of the con-
ferees said tonight. They will also
be asked to modify the preamble and
the reservations on domestic questions,
the Monroe Doctrine, Shantung,
equality Of voting and Article x.
Demand Change in Article X
The Democrats tonight decided that
they will insist that the Republicans
agree to what they declared would be
only slight change in the Lodge reser-
vation in Article x. The Democrats
want to insert in the Lodge reserva-
ton the words "by the use of its mill
tary or naval forces" so as to make
the reservation read that the United
States assumes no obligation to pre-
serve the territorial integrity or ex-
listing political independence of any
nation by the use of its military or
naval forces unless Congress at some
future time shall so determine.
Democratic Senators VINO have been
negotiating for a compromise said
after to-night's meeting that many Re-
publican Senators who want a COM
promise have agreed to accept that
change.
The Democrats will inform the Re-
publicans at a joint conference of rep
resentatives OF all factions of the
friends Of the treaty that the com
promise will have the support of nearly
every Democratic Senator. The Joint
conference will take place with tie
next day or two and will be attended
by Senator Hitchcock
Political Purposes Denied
The Democrats who met tonight in
sisted that they did not want the i'm
preston to go forth that they are
lining up with Bryan.
"The Democrats in the Senate are
anxious to have the country UNDER
stand that they are not playing politics
with the treaty." said Senator Owen.
at whose home the conference was
held.
1--WE are truly desirous of getting
ratification of the treaty, and we are
willing to accept any reasonable reser-
vations that explain this country's OBJ
legation in order to get it ratified.
1--WE discussed the ratification of the
treaty and the reservations that have
been suggested. The Senators who
were present said that they are all very
desirous of dealing with the matter in
q truly conciliatory spirit, but at the
same time they do not want to do any
serious harm to the treaty"
Senator Lodge yesterday asked the
Democrats to inform the Republicans.
who are working for an agreement on
reservations, how far the Democrats
will support the Democratic proposals
for compromise.
The Democrats were asked by Senator
Lodge, and by Senators Lenroot, Nc
Nary and Colt, "mild tionists,~ =
With whom the majority leader cons
fsrred yesterday, to submit a new com.
pzumise proposal In place Of the one