New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1920-01-03
NEW MOVE To RATTFY
PEACE TREATY.

Dissatisfaction over the pro
Ionged deadlock of the peace trea
ty has recently been growing rap
idly in the Senate, and yesterday
the matter reached a climax. Sen
ators of both parties initiated
moves designed to bring pressure
upon their leaders for definite ac
ton likely to lead to a comprom
Use which would have the support
of at least the siXty-four votes
necessary for ratification.
The movement on the Democra-
tic side was not gotten into con-
crete form but it was stated by
one Democratic Senator that there
were at least twenty of his col
leagues who were prepared to
negotiate direct with the Republi-
cans for the best reservation
terms possible unless their leader
speedily made definite move for
a reasonable compromise.
On the Republican side the
movement Yesterday developed ~.
most of the point of open revolt,
a representative being sent by
the mild" reservationists to Sen
ator Lodge with definite word
that, unless he promptly showed
a more favorable attitude towards
compromise, they would negotiate
direct with the Democratic Sell
ators with a view to the prepare
ton of set of reservations which
would be supported by enough
votes to secure prompt ratifica-
ton Of the treaty. 1t is also said
that, in demanding prompt" &C
ton by Mr.. Dodge, the mild"
reservationists meant that there
must be such action Immediately
after the end of the present
Christmas recess on January 3.
This demand for action is ap-
parently somewhat disturbing for
the leaders of both parties In the
Senate. In the first place Acting
Democratic Leader Hitchcock has
called a meeting of the Democra-
tic Senators on January Is for the
purpose of electing a permanent
Senate leader, and it is said that,
realfzingsthat his chances of being
elected as such leader depend
largely upon a continuance of the
present treaty deadlock until
after that date, he would much
prefer to have the matter remain
as it is for the present. Those
who favor Senator Underwood
for the leadership, however, are
said to be pleased with the pros
pect of prompt action on the
treaty. as they feel that, with the
treaty question out Of the way be-
fore Jan. 10, many Democratic,
Senator's who are now inclined to
Senator Hitchcock be-
cause of his leadership in the
treaty fight, would break away
from him and thus make the cleo
ton of Senator Underwood sure.
On the other hand Senator
Lodge is confronted with serious
because of the no-com-
promise attitude Of the irrecon-
cilables who have heretofore sup
ported his MISREPRESENTATION
plan. If he complies with the de-
hands of the "mild" reservation
sts, and opens negotiations with
The Democrats on the basis OF
more moderate reservation, lie is
likely to lose altogether the sup
port Of these Senators; while il
he refuses to comply with these
demands he will evidently lose
the support of the mild" res
srvationists-some ten or twelvel
N number-and may also lose a
of the so-called middle
rrounders" as well. His sitda-
ion is. therefore, unquestionably
very difficult one, and one
which may conceivahly result in
MS surrendering the leadership |
rather than receding from his
position that to ratify the treaty
strong reservations would
le both unwise and unpatriotic.