New-York tribune., 1920-02-09
Democrats Ready to Ac-
cept Best They Can OBJ
tain, but Will Vote Tore
iect if President Wishes
Battle C.enters
About Article X
Hitchcock Hopes Execu-
tive Will Accept Modi-
fed Lodge Reservation
and AvertNewDeadlock

From The Tribmne's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. - The
peace treaty with Germany will be
brought before the Senate again to-
morrow. with the Democratic Sen
ators prepared to accept the best
they can obtain from the Republi-
cans in the form of notifications OF
the Lodge reservations.
The attitude of the Democrats.
however, does not assure in advance
that the treaty will be ratified even
ii the Republicans agree to changes
in the Lodge reservations. A suf-
ficient number of Democratic Sena-
tors have assured Senator Hitchcock
that they will stand by President
Wilson in the treaty fight to make
ratification impossible if the Presi-
dent should refuse to accept what
ever concessions the Democrats can
obtain.
Fight Centers on Article X
Senator Hitchcock will lead most
of the Democratic Senators in a
fight to have the Lodge reservations
modified as much as possible. The
principal attack will be launched
against the Lodge reservation on Ar
ticle X, which the President in his
letter to Senator Hitchcock made
public yesterday declared he could
not accept.
If the Republicans agree to mod
ify the Lodge reservations, then SEN
ator Hitchcock will submit the
changes to the President before he
will permit final vote to be taken
on ratification. Unless the Presi-
dent signifies his Willingness to de-
posit ratification with the modified
reservations Senator Hitchcock and
a score of other Democratic Senators
are prepared to join forces with the
"irreconcilables" and prevent rati-
fication for second time.
Ratification depends entirely upon
the Presidents willingness to yield on
Article K, Senators of all factions in
the treaty fight declared tonight. Un-
less he yields another deadlock will
result similar to that of November 10,
when the Senate failed to ratify the
treaty both with reservations and with
out them.
Democrats Are Divided
There are eighteen or twenty Demo
cratic Senators who are prepared to
vote for the Lodge reservation on
Article K if it is slightly modified, but
that number is no sufficient to insure
ratification.
On the other reservations, with the
exception of the one on the Monroe
doctrine, an agreement was virtually
reached between the Democrats and
Republicans in the bipartisan confer
ences that ended ten days ago. The
democrats refused to agree to the
Monroe Doctrine reservation in the
mands for modification of that reser-
walton to force the Republicans to
change the reservations on Article K.
Senator Lodge is keeping his plan 5
secret. He has not yet decided, he
said, whether the Republicans will
start the Senate battle on the basis
Of the original Lodge reservations, or
whether notifications such as were
agreed to in the bipartisan confer
ences will be proposed by the Repubii-
cans immediately.
Substitute on Article X
A modified form of the Lodge reser-
vation on ArtlSle K has been prepared
by Senators Lenroot, OF Wisconsin,
and kellogg, of Minnesota, and it will
De proposed as a substitute for the
Lodge reservation later in the fight
The substitute retains the princir,e OF
the Lodge reservation. that the United
states assumes no obligation under
the league covenant, but alters the
wording of the original. The substi-
tute is acceptable to some of .he
Democratic Senators.
Senator Lodge will move to call ur
the treaty immediately after the Sen
ate meets tomorrow. He will ask fo,
unanimous consent to bring it before
the Senate again, and if that is re.
fused he will then move to supend
the rules, so that 1t can be called up
BY two-thirds vote Of the Senate
forts.
Senator Lodge will move to have the
pact recommitteed to the Foreign Re.
!ations Committee after 1t has beer
brought up. 1t is probable he will not
report it to the Senate from the com.
mittee until Tuesday, when the rea
hight will start.
The Republicans, with the exception
OF the "irreconcilables," will be united
IN the forthcoming battle, as the "mile
seservatShnists" have notified Senator
Lodge they will support any move hs
makes. Senator Lodge must win owe,
swenty-nine Democratic votes before
xatifcation with modified Lodge reser-
vations is possible. In order to bloch
fattdca1on, Senator Hitchcock must
mold only twenty Democrats IN line.
Hitchcock Is Hopeful
Senator Hitchcock was hopeful to.
night that the treaty will be ratified
IN form the President will accept
Senator Hitchcock indicated that he
believed the President will accept a
modified form Of the Lodge reserva-
Sion on Article x, If that Is tho bes,
CoMt&ssssd On 9ssrt pugs