The Washington herald., 1920-02-01
REPUBLICANS
MAY PUT PACT
UP TOSENATE
Talk Of Forestalling Hitch
cocks Motion to Take
Treaty to Floor.
DEMOCRATS DIVIDED
Underwood's Leadershir
Would Favor Early
Ratification.

The FIRST move of the Democrats in
the Senate toward extricatInF the
treaty from its present deadlocked
position was made yesterday when
Senator Walsh. OF Montana. srses
notice that on February 10 Sc sator
Hitchcock will offer a motion {, call
the treaty UP for general Dc te.
lSenator Hitchcock himself left for
NEBRASKA yesterday. where he wln
remain for a week.
Shortly after Senator Walsh l1t
given formal notice that a no IN
will be made to take the treat IN
in open session on Februar, -
there were rumors that Repub "A
leaders will endeavor 10 forestai the
proposed Democratic program tc-
bringing the treaty again befor TIA
open Senate by having such a no
tion made by someone on the &C.
publican side before the Nebr,.-ka
leader has opportunity TO place ..
lmotion. -
Republican leaders are at present
undecided as 20 what course they
will pursue. Senator Lodge and his
followers believe that a two-thirds
vote is necessary TO call the treaty
up for general debate. while Demo-
icrats and mild reservationists claim
that only a majority vote is requh ed.
Two plans are now being considered
by the Lodge forces. One is 10 antici-
pate Senator Hitchcock's proposed
move by Offering a similar me- o.
hrst. another is TO demand a n lh=
from the Vice President as O.
whether two-thirds or majority .is
is required before the treaty car y
pcalled up. Vice President Mari q
will undoubtedly rule that the uresl,
can NJ called up BY a majority yete
II ihs Lodge forces decide TO a.
I.his saint, their next move viii +.
tup appeal from Vice President Ala
shsIrs ruling. in -the belle that
enough votes can be mustered To have
the decision OF the chair overruIed-
"Nlid- Faction Restless
Senator Lodge realizes that the
mild reservation Senators on the
Republican side are liable TO. re-
volt at any time. II is for this rea-
son that he is in doubt as to
whether enough votes can be OBJ
tained to override the ruling of
the chair on the question OF the
number OF votes required to bring
the treaty before the open senate.
In the meantime there is a real
division among the Democrats.
Senators Hitchcock and Underwood
having almost an equal following.
IL is likely that Secretary Houston
viii assume his new duties as
Secretary Of the Treasury this
week To succeed Secretary Glass.
and that the latter will be sworn
in as senator before the week
closes. This will make one more
vote for senator Underwood in the
, Democratic caucus which will prob
ably b. called shortly after the re-
turn from Nebraska OF Senator
. Hitchcock at which a second at
, tempt will ne made to choose a
Democratic leader a. tho recent
= Democratic caucus S,nators Hitch
c"Ck and Underwood each received
]? votes. VITA senator Hokc Smith
, and S"nator johnson of South Da-
kota not Notin-. Underwood sun
?orters now claim that senator
, smith will cast his vote for Tn
dcrwood.
Democrats Need Leader.
Senator Lodge is extremely
anxious that the Democrats pick
their leader as soon as possible. The
Massachusetts leader makes no
secret Of his belief that with Sena-
tor Underwood as Democratic lead
cr, agreement upon reservations
that will guarantee carly treaty
: confirmation will come much soon
or than with Senator Hitchcock IN
charge.
1t is understood that Senator Ua-
derwood is so anxious to Get the
treaty out Of the way that he s
willing TO accept the Lodge reserwa-
tions practically unchanged. A.
though Senator Underwood recently
, stated that his selection as Demo-
: cratic leader would mean no charge
in the leadership OF the treaty fight.
it is felt that upon tine selection Of
a Democratic 10 Ider in the senate
hinge many phases of the coming
. determine the attitude OF the DEM
ocra.s. but will be a large factor I'M
the tao 'cs 10 be pursued by th7
Lodg, forces.
some Pointed Questions
Some Of the questions which WI
be decided between now and Eel
ruary 10 include
I. Will the Democrats suppl
Hitchcock. Practically as "
VIXEN he makes his motion. or
they desert his leadership in
Sient numbers to prevent resY
tion of treaty debate?
. .. VIII the Republican mild
ervationists combine with
Democrats in sufficient numbd
make Hitchcock's motion su
full?
3. How will the "irreconJ
Republicans vote?
4. VIII Senator Lodge mainJ
opposition TO calling up the nj
will he surrender on this poi5
face of the country's demand
mediate ratification?