The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-31
BACK TO SENATE
Pact Conferences Fail to Bring
Compromise.
Terms Out In Open Meeting on
February 10.
MILD VOTE HOLDS The POWER
Hitchcock Confident That
Democrats Will Win Out.
Lodge Being Urged to Make
New Agreement.

washington, Jan. S1.-The first
formal step of Democratic leaders to
revive senate discussion of the peace
treaty was taken today, Senator
Walsh, Democrat, Montana, giving
notice that on February 10, a motion
would be made to proceed to the
treaty's consideration.
The announcement, forecast by the
collapse yesterday of the bipartisan
compromise negotiations, caused hard
ly ripple on the surface of senate
procedure. Senator Walsh did not
mention the bipartisan deliberations,
but merely told the senate that he
was giving formal notice on behalf of
the Democratic leader, Senator Hitch
cock, OF Nebraska, who was absent.
There was no debate.
Statements made yesterday by
Senator Hitchcock and by Senator
Lodge, of Massachusetts, the Republi-
can leader, relating to the agreement
reported by the bipartisan commit
tee, were put into the senate report
by Mr.. Lodge. who asked that they be
printed as public document
Many Questions Involved.
Walsh's notice will set in motion a
train of events preliminary to the
February 10 a number of questions
must be decided. They include:
1-Will the Democrats support
Hitchcock practically as a unit when
he makes his motion or will they de-
sert his leadership in sufficient num-
bers to prevent resumption of treaty
debate?
2-Will the Republican mild reser-
vationists combine with the Democrats
in sufficient numbers to make Hitch
cocks motion successful?
S-How will the 'irreconcilable" Re
publicans vote?
4+WiIl Senator Lodge maintain his
opposition to calling up the treaty or
will he surrender on this point in the
face of the country's demand for I'M
mediate ratification?
Hitchcock Is Confident.
The answers,to some of these ques-
tions depend on conferences to be held
between now and February 10. As
things now stand, Senator Hitchcock
believes, he said, that 43 or Al of the
as Democrats will support the motion.
Some of them have, however, privately
expressed the strongest opposition to
it on the ground that to get the treaty
into the senate again means blocking
all legislation. of which there is a
great deal demanding attention.
Hitchcock holds that a majority of
the senate, that is, 40, can call up the
treaty. If he gets 4S Democratic
votes he must have six Republican
with him stick to the position which
they now occupy, that the treaty can
not be called up. Hitchcock must get
his votes from the mild reservation
group or the irreconcilable group.
'NIiId'' Vote May Secede.
Senator McNary,. mild reservation
leader, fayors this move as do Nc
Cumber and Colt. That makes three
votes. Kellogg and Lenroot, counted
with this group. do not favor it and
it is believed Hale is also against it.
McNary predicted today that the
mild reservation group, will furnish
all the Republican votes needed to put
Hitchcock's motion over.
Some of the irreconcilables also
favor it, because it would give them,
they said, a splendid opportunity to
campaign to the country, on the senate
floor, for utter rejection Of the treaty
and the league covenant Borah and
Moses are willing to, vote for Hitch
cocks motion and said today other ir-
reconcilables might do likewise.
It is possible. however, that Lodge
1 will change his position and present
no obstacles to the Hitchcock plan.
Some of Lodges friends are urging
| him to do this, on the ground that it
will show the country he is willing to
! go the limit to help ratification. so
| long as the Article 10 and Monroe
doctrine reservations are not tampered
| with.