The Washington times., 1920-01-11

NEARING. TEST
Democratic Senators Told to
Chooss Between Wilson and
Bryan.

Senate Democrats who stand Tor
immediate ratification OF the treaty
under the best compromise possible"
today began counting noses.
This means that w. J. Bryan is
preparing 10 Join the issue squarely
with President Wilson. according 10
many observers. A quick test OF
strength is expected.
To Set Date Soon.
The test IL considered likely To
come AZ q Democratic caucus soon 70
be held. The exact date probably will
be determined late this week when
Bryan 10 expected to return TO Wash
ington TO assume personal leadership
OF the situation.
Republicans challenged the Demo
| Gratis TO decide between the policies
Of President Wilson. who urged mo
compromise" in his letter to the Jack
son Day diners, and OF Bryan. who
called for immediate compromise and
ratification.
Urge Denserats 70 Decide.
Democrats who will follow Bryan
and agree TO support reservations
| which are much moro drastic than
Wilson wants were asked to pat
| themselves on record. Within few
| days II Is expected the country will
know whether Wilson or Bryan has
the most influence with Democrats In
| the Senate.
| Senator Lodge and mild reserva-
tionists. after a conference, sent word
to the Democrats through Senators
] Colt and McNary to hnd out how
many Democratic votes they can get
for the McKellar-Kendrick reserva-
tions. sponsors Of which claimed
early this week that forty-four Demo
Gratis would support them. ThAse
reservations go much further than
the interpretations which Wilson. In
his letter to the jackson Day dinner.
said he would not object to. Tney
are in fact based on the Lodge reser-
walton program.
The effect Of the Republican de-
mand that the Democrats sponsoring
reservations show how much support
they can get Will be to bring a show
down on the Wilson Bryan split, Re-
publican Senators declared.
| Democrats and Republicans agreed.
however, that a caucus of Democrats
would be the only way to get to
gether on the program which any
considerable number of Democrats
can support. They pointed out that
| the Democratic caucus is now on rec
ord as favoring the Hitchcock reser-
vations, which got forty-one votes
last session, and that until a later
caucus releases Democrats, they are
bound to stand by the Hitchcock res
ervatfens. These are Interpretations.
and even Senator Hitchcock says they
do not go far enough to meet the
present situation.
| Failure May Result.
If Kendrick and McKellar are un-
able to assure the mild reserVa-
tionists and Senator Lodge that a sub
stantial Democratic vote can be OBJ
tanned for the Democratic proposal
this effort to settle the controversy
and keep the treaty out Of the cam
paign admittedly will fail.
| II it becomes apparent that IL is t.
fail. Senator Underwood viii at one
| call up his resolution for an Official
conciliation committee, and mild
reservationists will support il as tho
last hope of getting an agreement. Bpt
| IL is conceded that il the Democrats
should show, by their attitude on tho
McKellar-K -Kendrick reservations thar
they will refuse to go any furthei
| than President Wilson goes, there will
be no use in creating a conciliati tiou
Icommittec.