The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-24
BLOCK TREATY AGREEMENT
Group of Influential Republican
Senators Protest Further
Compromises.
TAFT URGES RATIFICATION
Sherman of Illinois Threatens
to- Leave Republicans and
Join a Third Party.

wa shington, Jan. 23.-Protest BY a
large group Of influential republican
senators against further compromises
on the treaty reservations today gave
compromise negotiations a severe set
back, and the senators declared it in
wolves the future so1idity of the re-
publican party not only in the senate
but ir the nation.
Eight republican senators headed
by Johnson Of California am Borah,
of Idaho and claiming TO represent
other senators, called republican lead
er, Lodge into conference and deliver
ed what was declared to be an ulti-
matum against the proposed COM
promises of the informal bipartisan
committees of senate leaders.
Some Of the senators declared re-
ception of the protests would affec.
republican leadership and unity in
senate, while Sherman of Illinois stat
ed later he would leave the republic
can party and join a third party if
the republicans support "Emasculat-
ed" reservations.
The conference with Lodge, which
lasted almost three hours prevented
a scheduled session of the bipartisan
committee. This committee meets
again tomorrow but with compromise
prospects thrown into confusion by to-
days developments.
The movement against compromise
was almost coincident with a visit
by former Pres. Taft to the senate
where ne conferred with mild reser-
vationists" republicans and strongly
urged a compromise.
Another offset of opposition to the
compromise was a speech in the SEN
20 A cJ,, ,,f A
in favor. of immediate ratification. He
charged both republicans and demo-
Gratis with delaying ratification by
playing partisan politics.
Former President Taft visited the
capitol today and conferred with sena-
tors active in the movement for a
peace treaty compromise. He had a
talk with Senator McCumber, republic
can of North Dakota, a mild reserva-
ton les der. and later planned to see
a number of senators regarding the
compromise negotiations.
During his visit to the senate, Mr..
Taft addressed briefly representatives
of local committee which had in
vited him to talk at a mass meeting
here in a behalf of the treaty. He
said he did not believe a compromise
on the reservation affecting article X
would xiii" the league. The matter of
the ratification of the treaty is in the
hands of the senator's" said Mr.. Taft
1T must be worked out by Them
Every one knows how stand on the
treaty. I believe the best way is to
let the knowledge of the public desire
that the treaty be ratified trickle int
the senator's.
AT present, about eighty senators
are in favor of ratification about
evenly divided on the reservation. only
those fourteen reservations stand be-
tween them. 1t seems to me that COM
promise can be had and the treaty
ratified.
The attitude of the president in
regard to what he will do is not quite
clear. 1t has been said article Y of
the league of nations covenant is the
heart Of the league And it is IN that
it embraces the intention of the mem
bers of the league to cooperate in
putting an end to war. But on the
other hand, as practical PROPOSE
tion, article X will rarely, If ever, be
invoked for under articles 16 and II.
any attempt to bring about war win
be put down. So I believe that COM
promise or this article X can be made
swithout killing the league