Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-15

W dSnlnEtoh, Jan o,--Ihc fortunes VI
n treaty of Versailles became even
more unsettled to-day when. following
resident Wilson'S jackson day pro-
ouncement for taking the question to
he people in tho political campaign, and
William Jennings Bryan's opposition to
UGH u course democratic and republican
ricnds of the treaty in the Senate re-
cwed determinedly their effort TO secure
I compromis1 ratification.
Senator Hitchcock of Ncbra sla. the
,cting democratic loader, said he did
not regard the Presidents declaration
IS calculated to cut off any reasonable
compromise. and predicted ratification
efore the campaign was under way.
rho mild reservation group Of republic
ans took much the same view, and the
group of democrats who have been urgent
n their demand for compromise de-
Jared their position was il no way
altered.
Discussion OF compromise reservations
accordingly went forward as actively as
before. a conference being arranged on
he republican side to take UP in detail
he set of reservations submitted recently
~ Senator Kendrick of Wyoming and
pther democrats. 1t was said a counter
proposal might be drawn up within few
lays, and all of the parties to the ncgo-
iations seemed hopeful that an agree
nent ultimately would be reached.
Among the troatys irreconcilable foes.
However. the Presidents stand and the
tatement last night of Senator Lodge
If Massachusetts. republican Senate
leader, that he would most cordially
welcome the treaty as a political issue.
were hailed as having definitely put the
tpa st int bp ajpn
consistently has predicted failure for the
ompromsc negotiations, and they were
more positive to-day than ever that there
would he no agreement.
In announcing the compromise plans
would go ahead. Senator Hitchcock said
that of course the democrats could not
gree to any compromise vitality impair
ling the treaty. and that there would be
En endeavor to work out such reservations
hs the President could accept. Some
pther democrats were not so emphatic on
that point, however, declaring privately
hat they would take the best compro-
mise they could get and then put the
responsibility straight up to the White
louise.
The speech of Mr.. Bryan which in adj
lition to opposing any effort to carry
he treaty into the campaign, advocated
a speedy compromise. was put into the
Senate record to-day by Senator McCor-
mick. republican. Illinois. after the Pres
dent $ letter announcing his stand had
oecn presented by Senator Hitchcock
Senator Mccormick requested that the
wo ''be printed in juxtaposition, in view
# reports that they are agreed on the
reaty"
No debate developed and only one
other occasion during the day was there
mention on the Senate floor of the
reaty or the Jackson day developments
That was when Senator Walsh of Mas
sachusetts, a reservation democrat put
n a letter from President Lowell of Har-
ward asking that the democrats show a
Willingness to compromise on article ten
Hitherto an advocate of unreserved rati-
fication, DR.. Lowell wrote that he was
onvinced article ten imposed objection
able obligations
Washington leaving early in the day
for Lincoln. Neb., where he will speal
Monday. He did not confer with demo
cratic leaders here before his depar.
lure.
The cabinet met to-day, but if the
members discussed the split between
the President and Mr. Bryan or Mr.
Wilson's stand they would not adj
nit it,
Democratic leaders did not attempt
however, to minimize the effect tina
the split between the President anC
his former secretary of state Nigh
have both at the convention and a
the polls in November. They recalled
the dominant role Mr. Bryan played
at the Baltimore gathering when Mr.
Wilson first was nominated and whil
he convention time is yet in the dis
lance, some of them, at least, lool
forward to stirring events in San
francisco.
Many of the democratic leaders VIII
altered here for the Jackson day de
liberations left to-day for their homes
chairman Homer S. Cummings. of tn
National committee, conferred witt
some of those remaining concerning
arrangements for the party convention
on June 2S, but no definite decision
was reached.
A meeting of the executive commit
to will be called soon to formally dis
cuss plans. Meantime, Chairman Cum
mings expects to select members of
committee on arrangements which vii
90 to San Francisco. probably il
February, to make necessary arrange
ments there.