The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-01-09
PARTY SPLIT
CAUSES BUZZ
BY DEMOCRATS
Councils of Administration
Discuss Probable Effect Of
Disa greement Between
Bryan and Wilson on Treaty
LODGE IS ENCOURAGED
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9-President
Wilson's decision that the league of
nations issue should be placed before
the voters as solemn referendum
and William J. Bryan's contention that
the Democratic party can not go be-
fore the conutry on the question, but
should accept such compromises "as
may be possible" are the twin sur
prises of the conclave of the party
chieftains, which found it's climax In
the annual Jackson day dinner.
The presidents message to the par
ty written from the sick room in the
white house and read to the dinner,
made no mention of a third term for
himself and no announcement Of an
impending retirement to private life,s
as many had predicted it would.
Mr. Bryan's speech. taking issue
with the presidents decision on the
great question, was accompanied by
e statement that he was not speak
ing as a candidate for the presiden-
tiol nomination. Many of the diners
said that portion was a distinct sur
| prise to them.
Study Announcement.
Today the rank and file of tho Dem
| ocratic party as well as the leaders
| the opposite announcement of the two
national leaders and are attempting
to assess their effect on the party's
fortunes at the nominating conven-
ton which will be held in SanFran-
cisco, an June %, and at the polls
next November.
Many political observers feel that it
is yet too early to accurately esti-
mate the position in which the cleav
age between the president and the
foremost Democrat in private life
leaves the party. They feel that the
situation must settle down a little and
that stock must be taken and that
| the opinion of the rank and file must
| be sounded. -.-sss -. . e =-s-
Whether the position Of the two
men, now definitely announced means
a fight in the national convention re-
miniscent of the spectacular battle in
Baltimore in 1912 when Mr.. Bryan
forced the presidents nomination and
reversed the traditionafS- pfactice OF
ene party conventions in giving a nom
1 ination to candidate who commanded
a majority vote, none of the party
: :aaders is willing to predict for pub
lication.
Sentiment among the Democratic
: leaders at the Jackson dinner as ex-
pressed in their speeches seemed to
be divided between support Of the
J presidents decision and Mr.. Bryan's
position while some of the men who
are in the list of nominating possibil-
cities did not touch on the subject at
ell.
Bryan Clarified Situation.
1t seems agreed that Mr.. Bryan's s
eargument that the treaty should be
ratified with such compromises as
may be possible will give a tremend
Gus impetus to the movement which
steadily has been going on in the un'
der currents of the senate for a get
: together in which the so-called FIRE
concilables and those who stand for
ratification OF the treaty without any
reservations whatever ma find a com
? mon ground and join with the mild
reservationists in putting through the
covenant.
President Wilson's reiteration tha,
: there can be no reasonable objection
20 interpretations "to say what the
undoubted meaning of the league is.
> it is thought by some Of those on both
sides of the contest, may speed the
movement.
Senator Lodge, the Republican lead
er. and forersost in the fight agains
i ratification of the treaty without res
! ervations, which it is contended will
? "Americanize" it, takes a wholly op
:. posite view and has issued a forma
= statement declaring that the presi
= dents message makes impossible the
b. hope that the senate might compose
: its differences of opinion and ratify
tthe treaty protected by the principle,
= I, Sc. forth in the fourteen reservations
i An appeal to the people at the polls
the Republican senator leader de
clared in his statement, would to hin
be most cordially welcome"