New-York tribune., 1920-02-15

Republicans
Closing Ranks
On Article x
Eight More Senators Join
Combination That De.
mands Lodge Reserva.
ton Without Changes
80 Now 1'Standpatters''
Hope Of Compromise Re-
cedes and a Protracted
Struggle Is Looked For

From The Tribune's Washington Bsyeax
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14-The Repub-
licans Of the Senate were stiffened to-
day In opposition to any substantial
modification Of the original Lodge
reservation to Article X, as the result
Of the action of twenty eight Demo-
cratic Senators who yesterday signed q
statement that they would vote for
notifications that had been rejected
previously by the Republicans.
.t Republican Senators predicted that
the Democratic overtures will not find
response among the Republicans Sena-
tor Lodge, to whom Senator Hitchcock
submitted the Democratic proposition,
showed it to his Republican colleagues
to-day. but there was no disposition
apparent to support either of the res
ervations brought forward by the
Democrats.
Eigh. additional "midde-ground" Re-
publican Senators to-day lined up with
Senators Wadsworth, Calder, Ball, Dill
ingham, Frelinghuysen and Sutherland
IN opposition to any change in the
Lodge reservation to Article x. The
new Senators who are holding out
against material concessions to the
Democrats are New, Watson. Capper.
Curtis, Cummins, Kenyon, Spencer and
Harding.
Thirty Senators Back Lodge
With these fourteen middle ground"
Eepubiicans strongly opposed to the
modification of Article x, the number
of Senator'S who would vote against
ratification on any other basis than
the Lodge reservations is increased to
thirty, including the sixteen 'irrecon-
cilables."
Senator Hitchcock did not make anv
effort to-day to obtain the signatures
OF any more Democratic Senators to
the written pledge of the Democrats to
support either the bipartisan confer
Gle x.
Il offered it to Senator Lodge simply
as suggestion on which the Demo
Gratis thought ratification might be pro-
cured, said Senator Hitchcock. He
said ne did not expect Senator Lodge
10 make any formal reply to him as
20 the attitude of the Republicans
toward the oyertures.
The treaty will be called up for con-
sideration in the Senate on Monday
9Th the Republicans and Democrat
far apart on Article X. Ratfcatio
depends upon an agreement of both
SIDES to reservation to that part of ,
the treaty.
Protracted Fight Looked For
Discussion of Article X will be left |
until last, according to the tentative |
program. In the mean time the bipar-
tisan conference agreement on the
other reservations will be considered.
Senator Lodge will sponsor the -'o''
heations of tf~teen Of his original
reservations that Here asreed upon in
she bipartisan conferences. A long
s3attle is then looked for that will de- |
LAY ratlhcation several weeks
"Ihere will be a long period IF de-
ne present situation in the Senate I
Will delay ratification.
Senator McNary, of Oregon. leader
OF the mild reservationists" among
the Republicans, said the "mild" group
Will not support the Democratic pro-
pcsals unless all other efforts fail,
I'VE have agreed to vote for the
modified reservation which we draft
ed" said Senator McNary. at will be
introduced on Monday"
The modified reservation he referred
TO specified that the United States as
sumes no obligation to use it's military
or naval forces, the economic boycott
'or any other means" to preserve the
territorial integrity or political indie
Eendence of other nations
"The phrase or any other means is
extremely important" Senator McNary
said. The Democrats are fighting ali
reservations that would preclude the
use of any power of the United States
government without the approval of
Congress-.