Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-16

| concilables, in q round table discussion
| and exchange of views.
| Viewed from this angle alone, the meet
| ing WAS distinctly encouraging to those
| who want the treaty ratified. They cx-
| pected nothing tangible from the first
meeting. More may have been accom-
| plished, however, than those outside the
| conference know, rs the conferees agreed
that the suggestions made and the con
! clusions reached should not be made public
until fairly complete compromise had
been worked out. Those in the conference
explained that they did not wish 10 give
critics chance to tear down the fab'ic
they expected to build as fast rs IL was
put together, and, therefore, they were
pledged to withhold all details for the
present.
eve just talked" Senator Lodge said.
The conference WAS a beginning. IL
looks encouraging to me There is moth
ing that can be given out at this time.
We must have something definite done
before we can give out anything,
Senator Lodge said that the Democrats
present We're unanimous concerning their
desires III the way OF changes in the Lodge
reservations. 1t was considered signih-
cant that the original Lodge reservation,
and not some compromise plan, such as
the MckeIiar-kondrick reservation pro-
gram. was used rs the basis Of discussion.
Mr.. Lodge refused TO soy what turn the
discussion took on Article X, the chief
point in controversy. He expected n
further interchange OF views on that
subject.
Senator Hitchcock, though declining,
rs did all the other Senators, To so into
details, said he regarded IT rs the duty
.E A.
ference Mr. Hitchcock said, however,
that It was one Of the hardest things he
ever did, lie has heretofore held alool
from conferences, except for talks tn
individual Senators.
While this conference was going on,
Mr. Bryan, who arrived at the Cap tol
shortly before il began, circulated among
Senators. lie flrst saw Senator Mckcliar,
who helped write the Mckcllar-kcndrIck
reservations, known AZ the Bryan rcservn-
tlons MIR. Bryan also saw Senator Kenyon,
another worker for compromise, and Sera-
tor kendrick. He expects % see other
Senators tomorrow, in the intervals he
tween ceremonies celebrating the death
Of John Barleycorn, which he is here to
attend
Mr. Bryan made no secrrt Of his mis-
SION. He said he came to the Capitol to
see what could be done to hast ratlil-
cation, lie had n concert, plan - pro
sent, and he presented it II vas tho
same he had suggested earlier IN tAc
week in speech at Chicago
II have been asked Mir Bryan said
how the Democratic Party could en-
able tho majority in the Senate o. cast
the twot thirds vote necessary for rat.f-
cation The answer Is tittt two-thTds
Of quorum can ratfv is a quorum Il
present In other words. twO thirds
vote is two-thTds Of those present and
voting. The Democrats hy simply rrfus-
ing 10 vote would make i possible for
majority of the whole Senate TO cast
the two-thrds vote necessary e ratifca-
ti0n
Mr. Bryan explained that tins course
was suggest ed ~ a last resort. and that
he hoped 2 compromise would hc possible,
giving larger vote for ratification and
hus ad ding weight ta (. but i such an
grccmcnt could he reached The Demo
rats. he maintained could not afford
sham with the Republicans the r.
sponsibility
Il believe, he continued, "ihat m
overwhelming majority d the American
pcoplc wart the treaty ratified rEht
away There is i great deal morr interest
in speedy ratification than there Is n
phrsscology J hat is, the public will IN