Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-01-09

party. could make its choice.
and added, "Herbert Hoover Is
one Of them.o
Washington, Jan. 9.-Presiden.
Wilson's decision that the League
Of Nations issue should be placed
before the voters as a solemn ref
erendum," and William ]. Bryan's
contention that the Democratic
party can not go before the country
on the question. but should accept
such compromises "as may be pos
sible" are the twin surprises Of the
conclave Of party chieftains which
found its climax in the annual
jackson day dinner.
Nothing About Third Term.
The presidents message to the
party, written from the sick room
in the White house, and read to the
diners, made no mention Of third
term for himself and no announce.
ment Of an impending retirement 10
private life, as may had predicted
it would.
Mr.. Bryan's speech was accom-
panied by a statement that he was
not speaking as candidate for the
presidential nomination. Many of
the Democratic diners freely sad
that portion was a distinct sur
prise to them.
Discuss Effects.
Today members of the Demo-
cratic party are studying the op-
posite< announcements of the two
national leaders and are attempt
ing to assess their value on the
party's fortunes at the nominating
convention, which will be held on
Saturday, June 26, and at the polls
next November.
Political observers feel that it is
yet too early to accurately estimate
the position in which the cleavage
between the president and the FORE
most Democrat in private life leaves
the party. They feel that stock
must be taken and that the opinions
Of the rank and file must be sound
ed -.
Remember Baltimore.
Whether the position Of the two
men, now definitely announced.
means a fight in the national cor
ve1tion reminiscent Of the spectacu-
lar battle in Baltimore in 1917,
when Mr.. Bryan forced the presi-
dents nomination and reversed the
traditional practice of the party
conventions in giving a nomination
to a candidate who commanded a
majority vote, none Of the party
leaders Is willing to predict for
publication.
Sentiment among the Democratic
leaders at the Jackson day dinner
seemed to be divided between sup
port Of the presidents decision anl
Mr. Bryan's position.
Helps Get.Toge4her Move.
II seems agreed that Mr.. Bryan's
argument that the treaty should be
ratified with such compromises as
may be possible will give a tre-
mendous impetus to the get-to-
gether movement in the senate.
President Wilson'S reiteration
that there can be no reasonable oh
lection to interpretations to say
what the undoubted meaning Of the
league is," it is thought by some O.
those on both sides Of the contest.
may speed the movement.
Senator Lodge, the Republican
leader, and foremost in the fight
against ratification without reser-
vations, takes wholly opposite
view and has issued formal state
ment declaring that the presidents
message makes impossible the hope
that the senate might compose its
differences of opinions and ratify
the treaty protected by the prin-
ciples set forth in the IA reserya-
tons"
An appeal to the people at the
polls, the Republican senate leader
declared would to him be most
cordially welcome"
Disagree on Effect
Washington, Jan. 9.-Senators
disagreed widely today as to the
probable effect on the senate treaty
situation of President Wilson's
jackson day letter urging that the
question of ratification be carried
into the presidential campaign.
Among the Democrats generally
It was declared the letter had not
changed matters at all, and that
the effort to agree on compromise
reservations would continue. The
mild reservation Republicans
thought q compromise had been
rendered more difficult by the pres
ident's action, but said they did not
consider that the door had been
closed entirely.
Say It Makes An Issse.
A still different view was held
by the treaty's irreconcilable foes
who declared Mr.. Wilson's declara-
ton and related Developments dur
ing the Democratic gathering here
apparently had established definite
" that ratification would be IN is
sue in the campaign.