The Washington herald., 1920-03-11
EFFORT BEGINS
TO ELIMINATE
TREATY ISSUE
Compromise Meetings on
Article X Cease Demo-
Gratis Change Tactics.
VOTE DUE TOMORROW
Action May Develop Today,
However, to Decide
Final Fate.

Efforts at compromise on Article
7 of the league of nations went by
the board yesterday when Republic
can reservationists and irreconcil-
ables discovered that Democratic
senator's, principally those who face
an election next year, were launch
ing a movement to eliminate. the
peace treaty and league as an issue
in the campaign by ratification in
some form il possible and if not, in
a fight before the Democratic Ma
tional Convention in San Francisco.
The growth of this sentiment de-
eioped yesterday afternoon when
ten Democratic senator's. including
Hoke mith, of Georgia; ]. c. w.
Beckham, of Kentucky; Robert l.
Owen, of Oklahoma; F. NJ. Simmons,
Of North Carolina. and ]. o. Wolcott,
of Delaware, met in Senator Owens
office.
Some Refuse DESERVING.
Democrats who were known to
HoNC oNNChuCu thC ClOlH-
ed it in the greatest secrecy. The
full list of those present was re-
fusel, but ii was acknowledged that
all of those present would not sup
port the announced program of de-
serting the President. The inten-
tion OF the conference was, 1t was
said, to see what support could be
obtained from among those who
have heretofore been the staunchest
supporters of the President.
The more optimistic of this latest
Democratic revolt" said that they
were assured of the support of
more than twenty Democratic Sen
ators." Others at the conference
said that the movement had not yet
reached sufficient momentum to
bring about ratification of the
treaty, but that they felt convinced
a majority of the Democrats would
not stand by the President in his
position that the treaty must not
be ratified unless every "i'' is dotted
and every IT. crossed just as il
was when the President returned
from Paris.
-.-~@ssDA f5ShC O1SNt"
The program of these Democrats
tonight was to seek every modifi-
cation of the Lodge reservations
they could, but on the final vote for
ratification to support the adoption
of the treaty and the league in
whatever shape it might be. Fail
ing in this-and il the treaty once
more fails to obtain the necessary
two-thirds V-te these Democrats
intend to carry to the floor of the
San Francisco convention their fight
TO prevent any plank from being
inserted in the Democratic plat
form which might serve to make
the treaty party issue in the cam
paign.
The immediate result of the
Democratic move was to stiffen the
backs of the Lodge reservationists,
more especially since there were in
dications that the irreconciliables,
led by Borah, were once more to
warn Mr.. Lodge that they would not
support any modification of Article
y Senator James Z. Watson of In
diana, who has been endeavoring to
reach an agreement on a modified
Article Y with Senator Simmons,
announced later in the afternoon
that he would not offer the substi-
tute to the Lodge reservation which
was made public yesterday.
Mid Reseryationists StiII Work.
The only element in which any
hope of reaching an adjustment re-
manned was among a small portion
of the mild reservationists, who
were still at work on a modification
of the Article y reservation which
they hoped might p rove acceptable.
IL was considered possible that they
might place before the Senate the
modification discarded by Senator
Watson in the hope of obtaining its
adoption.
Conferences and discussions out
side Cf the Senate went on in such
numbers that on the oor there was
virtually no interruption to two set
speeches on Article y from the Re-
publican side delivered by Senator
Medill Mccormick of Illinois and
Senator Miles PoindeXter of Wash
ington.
Both attacked the position taken
by the President in his most recent
letter to Senator Gilbert N. Hitch
cock and said that the ratification
Of the league of nations without
reservations would be an impossi-
biIity.
Fate known Tomorrow.
The Republican leaders hope to
reach a vote on the heart Of the
league" ArticleX, by Friday. al
though events may precipitate a
showdown today. Senator Charles
Curtis. of Kansas. Republican whip
in fhe Senate. sent nut word yes
terday to all Republican absentees
that their return by tomorrow was
highly desirable. In the event that
vote on Article Y can be reached
by Friday the final roll call on
the ratification OF the treaty is ex-
pected to be held on Saturday,
when the treaty will either go to
the President in a form that he
says he cannot accept or back to the
death" to which II was sent once
before.
ll'f.biic IlehRer HerYice -