The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-06
DEMOCRATS PLAN TO|
 CONSULT PRESIDENT
 BEFORE FINAL VOTE|
Want to Know Views on Treaty as Campaign Issue Should Another Dead
 lock Develop
sy Associated rrss,

failure to ratify the peace treaty inn pending, democratic senators decided today to seek personal consultation with President Wilson before the de- cisive vote is taken.
 Not only do they want to know
 definitely how far he would go in
 indorstng a compromi~e. hut they
 desire to have . clear underestimate
 ing of his views on the treaty as
 campaign issue should another
 Senate deadlock thrust 1t into
 dominant position In DO. ( les.
 It is understood some of them also desire to ask what measures if any he would expect Congress to take to re- lieyes the country from war status while director at the polls is awaited.
 The move for such a conference, initiated long ago among some ele- ments of the party In the Senate. took definite form when Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska, the administration leader. sent to the White House during the day q letter asking that the President talk over the Senate situation with Sem ator simmons of North Carelina. i-' new movement to neeGtiate q treaty compromise It was indicated however, the appointment with Senator Simmons. if one were arranged, would be only preliminary. to a conference between the President and committee of sena tors chosen to take up with him the whole problem facing the Senate
 MAY SEE REPUBLICANS. roo
 In some quarters 1t was inti-
 mated if the plan developed sena-
 tors from both political patties
 eventually might be brousht face
 to face with the President in an
 enort to compose the differences
 hsldins the tre~4y h deadlockr
 In sconjunction Asith Senator " atson of Indiana. acting for the republican side, senator simmons has sounded out the sentiment of all the Senate ele- ments and when lle goes to the White House will be in possession of a clear understanding. of whatsthe republicans. would accept as a compromi SC. Sena tor Hitchcock's letter did not reach the executive offices until late in the day and no word regarding the Presidents intention was forthcoming from White House officials. It was indicated, how ever. an appointment probably would be made early tomorrow or next week.
 Negotiations in progress under the management of Senators Watson and Cunanins have centered about Article 1o the hardest nut to crack in the entire controversy, but such progress has been made that the outcome is. regarded by many senators as depending now on. the verdict of the President
 Denaocratlc senators do not want
 to vete for . ratfAcation which the
 Prepfdeat later will reject. nor do
 they want to turn down any rea-
 ssnable offer of compromfse unless
 they are certain 1t would be unsat-
 isfactory to him.
 LEFT UP TO, CONGRESS
 As the Article 10 compromise pro- posal now stands in the Watson Sim mons negotiations, it is understood to contemplate reservation declaring that the United States declines. to guarantee the territorial integrity of other league members by means of it's army or navy, by boycott or any other method of commercial force. or bN dip- lomatic pressure, except when Con- gress gives specific and affirmative au- thority for such a course.
 Tn these negotiations both Senator Hitchcock and Senator Lodge of Mas sachpsetts, the republican leader. have remained well in the background, but they are understood to have been in close touch with each department. Senator Watson and Senator Simmons both consulted frequently with their re- spective party leaders today as the ne- gotiations progressed
 Although among most senator's there was no disposition to view the latest compromise move with optimism ii claimed the lions share Of attention during the day while the Senate debate continued The only action taken on the floor was the readoptions H;t thout1 change of another of the rethbitcans reservations which provides fl5At thtA reparations commission shall rot in z terfere with trade between the Gnffedl States and Germany except by the con, sent of this government. z,
 The vote was 41 to 22, six democrafs joining wit hthe majority. Tbesdebate and proceedings repeated the history of last November: . democratic substi- tute being offered by Senator Hitchcock and rejected by the votes ofstlie repub- iicans and -reservatjon democrats
 In November, however. Ahe vote on adoption of the reservationsRas 64 to 70 with five democrAts supporting 1t ! .-a.