The Washington herald., 1920-01-24
Republicans in Stormy Ses-
sion Insist Reservations
Must Pass Intact.
LEADER HAD WAVERED
"Ireducible Minimum" Of
Protection Demand Of
Hiram Johnson.

Threats by Republican Senators 20
bolt the leadership OF Senator Lodge.
now held by the narrow margin Of
two votes. brought to an abrupt end
/ ing yesterday all talk Of compro-
mise Of the Lodge reservations TO
the treaty.
At a stormy gathering Of the frrec-
oncilable opponents OF the treaty
in Senator Hiram Johnson's office.
Senator Lodge was notified that ~
he consented to the slightest change
IN the reservations his Leadership
would be in danger.
| Deems Settlement.
Senator Lodge was also Informed
at this meeting that at least o,
Senators would vote against ratif-
cation IL the Lodee reservations are
changed.
This notification by the irreooncII-
ables not only served to ring down
the curtain on the negotiations which
Senator Lodge has been conducting
with Democratic Senators looking to-
ward compromise. bur made Il ap-
parent that the only possible way
the treaty can be ratified Is by the
acceptance of the Lodge reservations
{ by a sufficient number Of Democrats
to make 81 votes
This would mean that at least =
Democratic Senators must refuse to
follow the instructions OF President
Wilson and support the Lodge
reservations, thereby transferring TO
the President alone the responsibility
for continuing or ending the existing
status OF war with Germany.
Sherman wesId Bolt.
The action Of the opponents of the
treaty in serving this notice upon
Senator Lodge against permitting
any compromise was coincident with
the coming to the Capitol of Elihu
Root and former President Taft, both
Of whom came to urge compromise
andrratihcation
Behind closed doors the Arguments
OF the tresty- oppsnents We're laid be-
fore Senator Lodge for more than
three hours. One Of the Senators pres
7 ent said they had a rough" time.
Senator Sherman. Of Illinois. was one
of the most outspoken of those who
laid down the law in the matter OF
compromise. Senators Borah and
johnson contributed their bit to the
discussion. as did Senators Knox and
J Mccormick.
Senator Sherman declared he would
bolt the party completely II the con-
I vention at Chicago did less than en-
dorse the Lodge reservations.
The meeting was frequently inter
rupted by calls for a quorum in the
Senate. where business was practically
J set aside because of the lack of Sen
ators to make up the requisite num-
Der on roll calls. Once or twice as
sistants Of the sergeant-at-arms broke
into the conference to take enough
! Senators away to make up a quorum.
/ But they all came back as soon as
| they answered to their names, and the
conference was continued until long
after the Senate adjourned
Battle to Continue.
Senator Lodge said the bipartisan
gathering would be resumed today.
Senator Hitchcock. the Democratic
] NChN oAhACAASAh@
that the outlook for a compromise
appeared less hopeful"
When Senator Lodge emerged from
his talk with the ireconcilables, he
had this to say:
We've been consulting some
l gentlemen who don't want the
reservations changed"
Senator johnson. who got the
Senators together and took an active
/ part in the discussion. made the fol-
/ lowing statement:
| After months Of deliberation and
debate, the Senate agreed TO GER
tain reservations. which OF themselves
represent a compromise 1t is sd-
mitted by everybody these reserva-
tions. called the Lodge reservations
were the very least that should be
done for the protection OF America
In the language Of Senator Lodge.
they constitute the 'irreducible mini
num- Personally, i am unable to
see how there can be any compro-
mise on the least possible protec-
tion to America or upon reservations
which are the irreducible minimum