New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Fate Of Treaty
Hangs on Vote
OF Democrats
Eleven Have Lined Up for
Ratification With Reser-
vations at Various Times,
but l8 More Are Needed
Majority Assured Lodge
Even Hitchcock Admits That
Saturdays Action Makes
This Virtually Certain

ms virtually NcFtdlh
From Tho Trtbunc's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.-The action
Of the Senate yesterday in defeating
efforts to compromise on the with
drawal reservation to the covenant Of
the league of nations and in reafirm-
ing the adoption Of the original Lodge
reservation on withdrawal from the
league was regarded to-day by Sena-
tors representing all factions IN the
peace treaty fight az strong ind1ca-
tion that the Lodge reservations will
be readopted without change and that
the Democrats are breaking away from
the leadership Of President wilson.
The votes yesterday showed, however,
that there are not enough Democratic
Senators at present prepared to break
away from the leadership Of the Presi-
dent to insure ratification.
Senator Hitchcock, Of Nebraska,
leader of the Administration forces in
the treaty fight, admitted to-day that
Yesterdays ballotin4 indicated to him
that a majority of the Senate will de-
mand the Lodge reservations stand as
they were first adopted by the Senate
last November.
at was nothing very unusual" Sena-
tor Hitchcock said, commenting on yes
terday's voting. at rather looks as
though the Lodge reservations will be
adhered to throughout"
Treaty's Fate Up to Democrats
Senator Borah Republican. Of Idaho,
leader Of the group of "irreconcllables,
opponents OF the treaty, exPlesseu thc
same opinion.
"I think the Lodge reservations are
now going TO stand as they are said
Senator Borah "The question now is
whether the Democrats are going TO
accept the Lodge reservations"
The treaty will be sidetracked or
a few days to make way for the rail-
the Lodge reservation to Article x OF
the league covenant, the principal OBJ
stacle to ratification, will De taken up
for consideration.
When the treaty fight is resumed the
Republican Senators who are working
for ratification will attempt to make
further inroads in the ranks Of the Ad-
ministration Democrats.
Two things that happened in the
Senate yesterday were regarded by the
Republicans as being particularly sig
l1iticant OF the present state OF mind
of the Administration forces. They
were the desertion of four additional
Democratic Senator'S from the Presi-
dents leadership and the admission
made by Senator Walsh, of Montana,
who has been even stronger than the
Administration leader, Senator Hitch
cock, in his opposition to reservations,
that no one could now stand for ratiti-
cation without reservations Of some
kind
Six Democrats Won Over
Senators Ashurst, of Arizona;
Fletcher, Of Florida; Henderson, OF
Nevada, and Nugent, of Idaho, deserted
for the first time in the treaty fight
voted with the Republicans for reser-
vations.
tion pointed out to-day, however, that
more Democrats than those four
changed their votes yesterday. Sena-
tors Myers. of Montana. and Tram
nell, Of Florida, who voted against
the Lodge reservation on withdrawal
when it was first adopted by the Senate
on November 8, voted for it yesterday,
bringing the total number of Demo-
Gratis won over to the reservation up
to six.
The Republicans realize, however,
nine Democrats before the treaty can
be ratified with the Lodge reservations,
and they see no assurance in yester-
days vote that these votes can be OBJ
tanned
There are fourteen Republicans who
will vote against ratification, leaving
thirty-five who will vote for ratfica-
ton, if the Lodge reservations are not
modified. Two Of the forty-seven
Democrats will vote against ratfica-
tion, but of the remaining forty-five
Senator'S only eleven have so far voted
with the Republicans on reservations.
The Republicans, therefore, must win
over eighteen Democratic Senator'S who
have been opposing their program Of
reservation if the treaty is to be rati-
fed.
When consideration of the treaty is
resumed the second Lodge reserva-
rion, that on Article X, will come up
automatically. Senator Lodge has
planned to ask that action on that res
ervation be deferred until last, and
Senator Hitchcock has indicated will
lngness to grant the request. The
whole question of Article x will come
up for discussion Immediately. how
ever.
The "irreconcilables" are prepared to
make fight Immediately to show tha.
there is no possibility Of an agreement
on reservation to Article X, and will
demand that further consideration of
the treaty be dropped. II postpone
ment can be obtained and the other
reservations acted upon before Article
x, however, the Lodge forces hope to
win over enough Democrats to have
the original Lodge reservation to
Article readopted. Then, with all
the Lodge reservations reaffirmed bv
the Senate, the Republicans will once
more put the question of ratification
with the Lodge reservations up to the
Democrats to decide.