New-York tribune., 1920-03-11
More Than Half of Party
in Senate Join Opposi-
ton; II to Is More
Are Needed to Ratify
PenrOse Claimed
By Bitter Enders'
Republicans Will Insist on
Stronger Article X Res
ervation Than Offered

From, The 7ribnnc's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 1O.-The
Senate is in a political turmoil to-
night, with the Republicans and
Democrats both seeking to gain
every possible partisan advantage
on the verge Of final vote on ratifi-
cation Of the peace treaty with Ger
many.
BY prearrangement Senators Nc
Cormick, Poindexter and Sterling
held the floor for the entire after
noon, while "irreconcilables," mid
dle-ground" Republicans, mild res
ervationists," Democratic reserva-
tionists and Administration follow
ers held frequent conferences in the
cloak rooms in preparation for the
final vote that is expected to come
on Friday or Saturday.
More than one-half Of the Demo-
cratic Senators-but not sufficient
number to ratify the treaty1are in
open revolt against President VIII
son tonight, and have announced
that they will vote to ratify the
treaty with the Lodge reservations
Compromise Is Withdrawn
The Republicans during the maner-
verlng of the day withdrew their offer
OF compromise on the Article rss-
ervatlon. submitted to the Democrats
yesterday, and are now engaged in re-
writing the proposed substitute res
crvation in stronger terms.
Coincident with the decision of III.
Republicans to strengthen the comnro-
mise reservation before permitting j.
to be finally acted upon renorts
reached the Senate that Senator Pen
rose, of Pennsylvania, had Joined the
ranks Of the "irreconcilables" and
would vote against ratification in anv
form.
authoritative confirmation of the
report is lacking tonight, but leaders
OF the various factions in the Senate
have accepted it as true. and now are
counting upon the influence of Senator
Penrose to make ratification more diff
ficult.
Republican leaders have telegraphed
Senator Penrose, who is recuperatino
at st. Luc1e, Fla, from an illness that
has kept him out of the Senate Cham
Der since last November. and asked MIN,
to notify them how he would vote. 40
that he can be paired.
Democratic Revolt Spreads
If the treaty fails of ratification Sem
ator Penrose will greatly strengthen
the stand of the "irreconcilables" at
the Chicago convention. The "irre-
concilables" have threatened to bolt
the Republican party if it did not
come out in opposition to the treaty,
and the report that Senator Penrose
has Joined their ranks threw into con-
sternation the Republicans who favor
ratification with reservations The
opinion was general among Republican
Senators. however, that Penrose would
prevent the "irreconcilables" boiling
the party, and at the same time in
iAHSiSS CHC Paity SOiFculiUii W lake Il
firm stand in opposition to President
Wilson on the treaty.
The cleavage in the Democratic
ranks became evident before the Senate
met to-day. meeting of Democrats
who favor the immediate ratification
Of the treaty on the best terms that
can be obtained was called by Senator
owen, OF Oklahoma, who yesterday.
broke with the President. 1t was at
tended by dozen Senators, among
thep Smith. of Georgia.; Simmons.
Beckham, Walsh, of Massachusetts.
and Wolcott. Senator's Wolcott and
Simmons heretofore have been strong
Administration followers.
Say Thirty Will Bolt Wilson
The Democrats afterward said that
they represented Considerably mora
than half" of the forty-six Democratic
members of the Senate The treaty
sltuation was discussed behind closed
doors. No action was taken to hind
the conferees, and the meeting broke
up with each participant "free to vote
according to his own conscience" Il
was stated. That the conference was
an open revolt against the President
on the treaty issue was admitted, how
ever. by. some Of the Senators who at
tended
l iS iiuiuucI ia democratic senators
who will vote to ratify the treaty, even
If the Lodge reservation to Article x
is adopted, will shock the country"
said one of the Democrats who at
tended. Considerably more than half
of the Democrats will vote for ratitica-
tion on the best terms they can get"
This Senator placed the number Of
Democrats who are bolting the Presi-s
dent at twenty-five or twenty-six.
Another Senator in the conference said
that there will be thirty Democratic
votes for ratification, while third
estimated that more than twenty-five
Democrats will refuse to follow the
President on the final roll call.
IL to Is More Needed to Ratify
Senator Hitchcock, acting Admin
istration leader, said he is confident,
however, that sufficient number OF
Democrats will stand by the President
to defeat ratification with the Lodge
reservation to Article X.
Senator Simmons, who has been con-
Quoting compromise negotiations for
tire Democrats, asserted that thexe will
be twelve to fifteen votes fcweD than