New-York tribune., 1920-01-16
Nine Factions
Take Step to
Adopt Treaty
Continued from page 1

Of the league or not, under the pro-
visions Of Article x, or to employ the
military or naval forces of the
United States under any article Of
the covenant, unless in any particu-
lar case Congress shall, by act or
joint resolution, so provide"
Mr.. Bryan conferred with Senator
Mcclellan as soon as he reached the
Senate, and later talked at length with
other Democrats and with Republican
mild reservationists."
Mr.. Bryan said he is not interested
in the terms of the compromise he
hopes to see adopted, and that he is
interested only in preventing the DEM
ocratic party from being responsible
for long delay in ratifying the treaty
He expressed the opinion that Pres
ident Wilson would accept whatever
compromise the Senate might work out,
provided it did not ratify the treaty
with the Lodge reservations unchanged.
Mr.. Bryan protested against pub
ner to the effect that he had "split"
with the President. He said that he
was trying to get the treaty ratified,
and agreed with the President that if
the Senate refused to ratify it the
people should be appealed to next No.
vember. He continued:
II believe an overwhelming major
ity Of the American people want the
treaty ratified right away. There is a
great deal more interest in speedy rat
| ifcation than there is in phraseology;
arrangement that is made here If the
arrangement hastens ratification and
takes this issue out of the way.
Nebraskan Urges Agreement
IAN agreement is infinitely better
than any other settlement, for two
reasons:
First, it takes the question out Of
politics, and permits both parties to
turn their attention to very important
domestic issues.
Second, it permits ratification by a
larger majority than would be possi-
Bile under any other plan. This gives
the greatest possible weight to our ac-
ion, and has tremendous influence
abroad.
"These two reasons help us at home
as we'll as abroad, and ought to be
sufficient to compel an agreement.
feel sure that the expressions from
the public, constantly growing in num-
Der and force, will compel an agree
ment among the eighty-one Senator's
who voted for ratification in some form
at least. an agreement among enough
to furnish the necessary two-thirds
majority.
"In my speech at the Jackson Day
dinner I went further. l suggested a
way by which the Democrats could
compel settlement; namely, by letting
majority of the Senate take the re-
sponsibility for action if an agreement
is found impossible. I said the Demo
cratic party could not afford to go
before the country on the issue that
minority of the Senate had the right
to dictate the policy in case Of dis
agreement.
Two-Thirds Of Quorum Can Ratify
Tho party could not afford to take
advantage of constitutional provi-
sion requiring two-thirds majority
to ratify, because that would simply
mean filibuster against a majority
and in this day we could not defend
course which would make it harder
to ratify treaty and end a war than
to declare war, which can be done by
majority. If the Constitution were
to be rewritten in the light Of present
day sentiment, l think that majority
would be able to terminate war ''
u have been asked how the Demo-
cratic party could enable majority
to cast the two-thirds vote necessary
for ratification. The answer is that
twothirds Of quorum can ratify, if
quorum is present. In other words,
two-thirds vote is two thirds Of those
present and voting. The Democrats,
simply by refusing to vote, would make
it possible for majority of the whole
Senate to cast the two-thirds vote
necessary to ratification.
Plan Not a Concession
"If any one thinks this plan I have
outlined is concession to the Repub-
lican party, he hasn't thought the mat
ter through. Yielding to the majority
in this country does not mean either
an approval Of what the majority does
or the ending of the contest. 1t is sim
ply acquiescencc in the will Of the ma
jority, which Jefferson says is the first
rule of republic from which there is
no appeal except to force.
"An appeal can be made to the coun-
try to reverse in the league of nations
any action taken by the Senate. and to
authorize the restoration of any pro-
vision stricken out. My opinion is that
the Democratic party can make a much