Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-24
DEMOCRATS GOING
TOLODGEPR PROGRAM,
REPUBLICANS SAY
G.. o. p. Leaders Declare They
Will Have % With Them
on Treaty.
ONLY IL MORE ARE NEEDED

Washington, Feb. "A movement for
the acceptance of the Lodge reservations
on Article y and the Monroe Doctrine
developed yesterday among Democratic
Senators as o result of the voting last
week, which demonstrated to MANY that
no program short OF the original Lodge
program can command the votes neces-
sary for ratification
The movement has already assumed
proportions which, In the opinion of
some Republican Senators, indicate that
IT may produce the necessary votes Re-
publican Senators last night, stated that
they had been assured by Democratic
Senators that twenty-five Democrats
were ready to vote for the original Lodge
reservations on the two chief controversial
points and for all the other Lodge reserva-
tons either IN amended or original form.
While Democratic leaders thought
that the figure gwen by Republicans was
too high, they said that there was no
doubt that a strong sentiment existed
as a result of the voting upon the FIRST,
Lodge reservation Saturday in favor Of
taking the Lodge Program and SO getting
the treaty ratified and out of the Senate,
This sentiment, the Democrats said.
might result I'D furnishing the votes
needed, but they thought il unlikely.
They said that Senator Lodges chief
heutenants had estimated that thirty
four Democratic votes must be obtained.
There are at least two Democratic SEN
ators who would vote against the treaty
in any form or with any reservations
Senators Thomas and Reed. That would
leave but forty-five among whom the
thirty-four must be obtained. To get
that number all but eleven Democrats
would have To go over TO the Lodge
camp.
That such thing was possible the
best informed Democrats said they doubt
ed exceedingly. They were willing TO ac-
knowledge that on notifications of the
Lodge reservations, excluding Article X
and the Monroe Doctrine, forty or more
Democrats would in the end vote as MIR. /
Lodge wanted, but on the other two vital I
matters they said they greatly doubted
whether more than twenty Democrats
would under any circumstances desert J
President Wilson and Senator Hitchcock /
md accept the leadership OF Senator /
Lodge, merely as means of getting the I
reaty off their hands
The whole question probably viii be /
-hreshed out at party conference to /
DO held soon, Senator's said Senator I
simmons favors such a conference, and /
Senator Underwood said yesterday that /
he thought 1t likely that an informal gath /
ring might be held. not to bind Sena-
ors to any course of action. but TO talk
'ver the whole situation and decide, if /
possible, what was best to do.
Senator Underwood declined to say
whether he personally would vote to ac- 4
ept the Lodge reservations ON Article
\ and the Monroe Doctrine in their
'rlginal form.
The question of calling the informal
,arty conference will be taken up with
Hitchcock, the acting Demo-
ratio leader, when he returns to Wash
ngton from brief speaking trip. Mr..
Hitchcock before leaving indicated that
e did not view the idea with favor. as
e could see no reason for calling the
Democrats together again Their posi-
ion, he thought, was reasonably we'll
efnsd and they should stand BY it.