The New York herald., 1920-01-14
Plea for Ratification by Repre-
sentatives of 2O,ooo,ooo
Americans Fails of Effect.
ACTION NO NEARER
THAN FOR MONTHS
Senator Lodge Blames President VII
son and Senator Hitchcock Ac-
cuses Republican Leaders.
By DONALD A. CRAIG.
Herald Bureau,
No. 1,50: III Street, n. w.
Warrington, ID. c., Tuesday.

Senator Lodge. Of Massachusetts, Re-
publican leader in the Senate. and Sena-
tor Hitchcock. OF Nebraska. administra-
tons spokesman in the peace treaty con-
troversy, listened today to a plea for
early ratification Of the treaty, with
whatever reservations may be necessary
to obtain the two-thirds vote, made by a
delegation of forty men and women who
spoke in behalf of twenty-six organiza-
tions with total membership OF 20, 900 900
Americans Oscar Straus, of New York,
was chairman Of the delcga ton.
At the same time a similar plea was
made at the White House by represent
atives Of the same organizations. Unable
to see President Wilson. they presented
to Mr. Tumulty a copy OF resolution
adopted few minutes before at a meet
ing OF the delegation in the Willard Hotel.
Senators Lodge and Hitchcock received
the members of the delegation at the
Capitol cordially and each made a speech.
Both said they were doing everything
within their power to hasten the restora-
ton of peace. Senator Lodge said the
trouble was with the President, who would
not permit his followers in the Senate
to vote their convictions and accept the
AmericaniZing reservations. Senator
Hitchcock although admitting that part
Of the difficulty was with the President.
insisted that it was the Republican lead
ers who were really to blame for demand
ing the adoption of reservations that would
change the character of the League of
Nations and keep this country from TAX
ing its proper part in the peace settle
ment.
The upshot Of the whole matter was
that tonight the treaty is no nearer rati-
fication than 1t has been for several
months,
No Offer to Yield.
Speaking for publication, Senator's con-
tinucd to hold out hope of SUCCESS They
reported progress" in the compromise
negotiations. Senator Hitchcock reiter-
ated his oft spoken prediction that 1.-The
inexorable necessity" of the situation
would bring ratification. But privately
the leaders confessed that neither side
had Offered TO yield on any vital point.
Tho Democratic revolt" against the
leadership of President Wilson is not ma
terializing With rapidity. Although the
logic of William j. Bryan appeals to all
of the Democratic Senators. not enough
Of them arc yet willing to act upon 1t
with sufficient definiteness to give the
necessary two-thirds vote for ratification
OF the treaty.
With the Democratic caucus to select a
floor leader only two days off. the COM
promise negotiations slowed down today.
Senator Underwood, OF Alabama. after a
conference With Mr.. Tumulty at the White
House, predicted that he would be relected
over Senator Hitchcock as the Democra tic
leader. but said he was perfectly willing
that Senator Hitchcock remain in charge
OF the treaty.
An effort will be made TO keep the treaty
controversy from bobbing up at the caucus.
but 1t probably will be unsuccessful. IL Is
not likely. however that the caucus will
20 on record one way or the other on the
question of a treaty compromise. The
friends OF Senator Underwood and Senator
Hitchcock are both anxious not TO compli-
cate the contest over the Leadership by
tho treaty issue.
The Bryan Democrats received a little
ercoura cement this afternoon when Sena-
tor Colt, Of Rhode Island, one of the go-
betweens for the Republican mild reser-
vationists," said that If no other way
could be found 10 settle the treaty fight
he, and he believed several other Repub-
leans would be willing to accept the new
Democratic proposal for a compromise
reservation on Article X. But II was not
possible to find more than two or three
herupllCSllS WHO dBTetu Win OeHdlOT COll,
and 1t still seems unlikely that enough,
votes can be found to dlsplace the Lodge
reservation on Article X.
Denies Partisan Motives.
The petition presented by the organiza.
tions heard by Senators Lodge and Hitch
cock and Mr.. Tumulty was addressed to
President Wilson and tho Senate. An
swcring the plea of the delegation, Sena-
tor Lodge said In part:--
Let me first say this. because I think
there has been some little mistake about
with this great question Senators have
been affected by personal or party mo-
tves. That has not been the case. In all
these long months during which we have
been discussing reservations there has
been no word Of party. have never men,
toned II myself, and assure you that in
dealing with this matter. however right or
wrong they may be in their conclusions,
Senators hold very deep convictions upon
the questions involved. To them they are
questions OF principles, and OF very great
principles, as they think. We went all
through the long and tedious summer, and
finally on November 10 we came to a vote.
"The situation then existing was this:-
There was the President demanding that
the treaty should be ratified U am speak,
ing Of the League of Nations now and
not OF the treaty of peace with Germany.
as he said. without crossing az, or
dotting an a." At the other extreme were
a very large and very powerful body Of
tccutaued ON rage Tive, Gel. rhree.)