The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-03-12
DEMOCRATS SEEK
PRESIDENT VIEWS
WANT HIS ADVICE ON cOMPRO-
MISE CONDITION BEFORE FL
NAL VOTE is TAKEN
SEN. SIMMONS TO MEET HIM
minated That Senators From Both
Political Parties Eventually Might
Meet With the President in Ef-
fort to Reach Compromise

Washington. March 6-With another
failure 10 ratify the peace treaty i'm
pending. Democratic senators decided
Yesterday to seek personal consulta-
ltion with President Wilson before the
decisive vote is taken They wished
TO know definitely how far he would
go in endorsing compromise. and also
TO have Il clear understanding of his
| views on. the treaty as ii campaign is
sue should another senate deadlock
force it into politics.
Some Democrats were understood
also to wish to know what measures
the president would expect congress
to rake to relieve the country from
Il war status while decision at the
polls on the treaty was awaited.
The move for such conference.
initiated long ago among some ele-
ments of the party in the senate. took
definite form when Senator Hitchcock
of Nebraska, the administration leader,
sent a letter to the White House ask
ing that the president talk over the
senate situation with Senator Sim
mons of North Carolina, in charge for
the Democratic side of the new move
ment to negotiate treaty compromise.
If was indicated, however. that the |
with Senator Simmons, |
if one was arranged, would be only |
TO Il conference with Il |
committee of senators chosen to take
up with him the whole treaty prob
lem. In some quarters it was init
mated that senators from both politi-
cal parties eventually might meet
with the president in an effort to reach
a compromise.
In conjunction with Senator Watson
If Indiana, acting for the Republican
side Senator Simmons has sounded out
he sentiment of all the senate ele-
nents and when he goes to the White
House will be in possession of a clear
of what the Republicans
would accept. Senator Hitchcock's let
er did not reach the executive Of
ices until late in the day and no word
egarding the presidents intention was
from the White House last
light. 1t was indicated, however. that
n appointment probably would be
lade either today or early next week.
The new negotiations have centered
bout Article X, the hardest nut to {
rack in the treaty controversy, but
lch progress has been made that the
utcome is regarded by many senators
5 depending now on the verdict of the :
resident. Democratic senators do not
ant to vote for ratification which the
resident later would reject, nor do
ley want TO turn down any reason
Die offer of compromise unless they o
e certain 1t is satisfactory TO him. {
AS the Article y. compromise pro- 4
)saI now shapes up in the Watson a
mmons negotiations. it is understood 81
contemplate reservation decIar- IL
z that the United States declines to O
larantee the territorial integrity of II
her league members by means of its o.
my or navy. by a boycott or any
her method of commercial force, or II
diplomatic pressure, except when III
ngress gives specific and affirma- ID
e authority for such course. 20
The new move claimed the lions
are of attention during the day while "a
? senate debate continued.