Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-13
DOZEN Democrat
WORKING WITH MILD.
RESERVATION GROUP

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-Since the
Jackson day dinner, ABOUT a dozen
Democratic senators have been in
conference with Republican mild
reservationists," seeking to bring
about compromise on the peace
treaty. Senator McNary. a mild
reservationist," was delegated to sub
nit new set of reservations to his
Republican colleagues. These reser-
vations were prepared by Democrats
who are anxious to see the treaty
ratified before the next week or so
is past, and to an extent they are
notifications of the Lodge resolu-
tions.
These Democrats felt encouraged
today when the Republican senator's
advocating early ratification drew
up a counter proposal, to which, it's
sponsors said, Senator Lodge, the
party leader, had given tentative as
sent. The proposal was said to in
clude only some of the collateral is
sues in the reservation controversy,
leaving to future negotiations the
troublesome questions of Article 10,
and equality of voting power in the
League of Nations.
Some of the Democratic sugges-
ions were said to have been ac
cepted, including a change in the Re-
publican reservation program of last
session so that the senate qualifi-
cations would not have to be &C
cepted affirmatively by the other
powers. Agreement to these changes,
however, was understood to be con-
ditional on certain concessions by
Democrats in regard to other reser-
vations.
The counter proposal was drafted
by mild reservation Republicans and
submitted to Senator Lodge before
being laid before the Democrats. Sen
ators of this group said afterWard
Mr.. Lodge showed Willingness to
have the negotiations proceed.
AS result, both the mild group
and the Democrats declared progress
had been made and were hopeful at
least the controversy soon might be
stripped of most of it's minor fea-
lures and narrowed to two or three
subjects. Many of them predicted
also that when the time came, the
big stumbling blocks of Article 10,
md voting equality also could be re-
n owed and ratification secured.
Submission Of the counter proposal
70 the Democrats came after the SEN
ate adjourned at the end of a day
which had kept the chamber and
cloak rooms alive with treaty talk.
Not once was the subject mentioned
on the floor, but it was the burden
of many private conferences among
senators on both sides.
Among these conferences was a
talk between Senator Lodge and Sen
ator Underwood, Of Alabama, a Dem
ocrat who has taken prominent
part in urging a speedy compromise.
Senator Hitchcock, Of Nebraska, the
acting Democratic leader, conferred
with several of the mild reserva
tion Republicans. Although the de-
tails Of these conversat IONS We're
not revealed, there was evidence
both Democrats and Republicans in
tended to continue their compromise
efforts, despite President Wilson's
declaration in favor of taking the
question into the campaign. Re&s-
surances on this subject were asked
of the Democrats, however. the RE
publicans requesting that they be in
formed exactly how many Democrats
would agree to the Republican coun-
ter proposal. They were ;old by
Senators Mcclellan of TennesseaY and
Kendrick, of Wyoming, who framed
the compromise reservations, that
there had been no change IF senti-
ment since the presidents announce"
ment and that more than forty Dem
ocrats wanted to compromise.
1t was to Senators Mcclellan and
Kendrick that the new plan of the
Republicans was presented. and they
announced they would take a canvass
of Democratic opinion early next
week. They declined to MAKE any
predictions as to their acceptab bill
ity, but both said they were pleas
ed with the progress of the negotia-
tions.
After their talk with Senator
Lodge, the three mild reservation
lists who presented the counterpart
posal also appeared satisfied with
tbn raGult