The New York herald., 1920-01-04
PARTY SENATORS
IN OPEN REVOLT
AGAINST WILSON
Break Away from
Presidents Leadership in
Dealing with'Peace Treaty.
READY TO ACCEPT
LODGE PROGRAMME
New Movement Follows Failure OF
Hitchcock to Make Headway
Toward Any Compromise.
BY DONALD A. CRAIG.
Herald Bureau,
No. I ,5O2 II Street. n. W.,

WuSH1nEtOn, u, SatUrO0ys
An open, organized revolt against the
uncompromising attitude Of President Will
son on the peace treaty, which seems
likely to extend to the rank and file of
the Democratic party throughout the ma
ton, broke out today among the Demo
Gratis of the Senate which has for its pur-
pose the early ratification of the treaty
by the acceptance, IL necessary, Of the
Lodge reservation programme. designed
to Americans the League of Nations.
The new movement is the direct result
Of the complete failure OF the efforts OF
Senator Hitchcock, OF Nebraska, spokes-
man for the administration, to make any
headway toward q compromise during the
holiday recess. Senator Hitchcock con-
fessed failure yesterday, although still IN
sisting that he had hope.
Both the President and Senator Hitch
cock are being ignored in the present
movement, which is being led by Senator
HoSe Smith, of Georgia: Senator King. of
Utah, and senator Pomerene, OF Ohio.
They have called a meeting for tomorrow
at the residence OF Senator Smith when
the first steps will be taken to line ur
enough Democrats TO insuFaczsatifS0os -
OF the treaty by acceptance, II necessary,
or the Lodge reservation programme vir-
tually intact.
The first step will be to propose n sc,
Of reservations modifying slightly the
Lodge reservations. If this will not suit
the Republican reservationists, the Demo-
Gratis in revolt will make whatever con-
cessions are required. They will start out
with the intention Of accepting the Lodge
programme in substance and principle,
which is something that Senator Hitch
cock refused to do.
Relieve President Must Accept.
The revolt ia being conducted upon the
theory that President Wilson will have
reservations and all. or assume undivided
responsibility for the further postpone
ment Of the status OF peace.
Although the movement holds out the
only present hope OF early ratification of
the treaty. it has not gone far enough
vet TO make that result certainty. There
are about ten Republicans who NAV be
counted upon to vote against the entire
treaty, regardless Of any reservations
that NAV he adopted. They are the
"irreconcilabIes." led by Senator Borah.
OF Idaho. with this number deducted
from the total Republican membership of
80. IL will he necessary for the Democratic
reservationists TO deliver % votes on their
side to make up the 81 votes necessary
for ratification under the two-thirds rule
OF the constitution.
About fifteen Democrats will join the
movement at the meeting tomorrow. Sew
eral others who are out of the city are
known to he in sympathy with II.
Senator Hitchcock thinks. however, that
enough Democrats Will remain loyal 20
the President 10 prevent ratification on
hoc oIfhntto.1, "a tc MAINLY worried
by todays developments.
1t is possible that concrete reserva-
ton programme will be drafted at the
meeting tomorrow for presentation on
Monday as the starting point OF the nego-
tiations with the Republicans. with the
distinct understanding. however. that IL
will be changed later if IL does not meet
with tn. app oval of sixty-four Senator's.
Depends on "yfiddIe- Group.
Whether the movement win result event
ually in the ratification OF the treaty
depends upon the success OF the fighting
OF the middle against the two lends. =
The ends are the Republican frrecon-
cilables on one side and the administra-
| ton Democrats who will not accept the
Lodge reservations even In principle or
the other side. In between are the reser-
vationists-mild and strong-ot both par
ties.
This middle group does not now muster
sixty-four votes. but every effort viii be
made TO extend II both ways untl the
necessary two-thirds are obtained.
AS working basis for the progr1mrne
OF the revolters, Senator King will sub
NIT a list of reservations following the
lines of the Lodge programme. MT.
Kings proposal Is neither TO recognize
nor repudiate the obligation TO preserve
territorial integrity under Article Y. His
reservation on that point would declare
that whatever obligation there might be
under Article X. would not be effective
unless Congress so decided. The Repub-
licans have taken the position that tho
obligation must be specifically denied, and
Il Is understood that Senator King and
his colleagues are willing TO yield on this
point III IL becomes necessary.
AS an additional concession Mr.. kina
proposes to accept with some modification
OF phraseology the preamble of the Lodge
programme requiring acceptance of the
reservations by three of the principal
allied Powers.
Senator King 10 Act Soon.
Senator King announced that he would
introduce his programme in the Senate or
Monday and would give notice that ht
would move at an early date to resume
consideration OF the treaty.
Senator Hoke Smith, who called the con.
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