Evening star., 1920-01-24
||RRECONC|LABLES
FEARED BY PARTY
Reported Treaty UItimatum
to Senator Lodge Adds to
Republican Alarm.

Among republican politicians out
side OF the Senate apprehension was
expressed today that the group of
'irreconcilables' stands to make or
break the republican party in the
coming national campaign on the
position it may force the party in
the Senate to take on the treaty.
This feeling Of alarm was accen-
tuated by circulation of the report of
an ultimatum said to have been
served yesterday upon Senator Lodge.
section of the irreconcilables.
1t was reported that these senators
had called in Senator Lodge and in
diplomatic but unmistakable Ian
guage intimated to him that if he
yielded on essential points of the
treaty to the compromise efforts now
under way his leadership would be
imperiled.
Contradictory Views.
How the irreconcilables, estimated
to vary in number from five to four
teen, according to the degree of irre-
concilability. could unhorse Senator
Lodge was not disclosed. The bold
attack was said to be based upon the
belief. in the first place, of some of
the senators that Senator Lodge at
heart does not want the treaty rati-
ned and might be secretly gratified
to have backing and in the second
place upon suspicion of others of
them that Senator Lodge is disposed
to yield too much to the compromisers
two rather contradictory positions
when analyzed.
1t is said that Senator Lodge dis
nf IA
out that his proposed concessions did
not go to the heart of the republican
majority's position on the league of
nations and that in fact the democrats
are yielding the most. AS to the
threat of leadership overturn. Senator
that he is willing to go to his COL
leagues on the question and accept
defeat If it should be their verdict
to administer it.
The disquietude of republicans out
side the Senate, is explained to be due
to the general opinion that if the treaty
is finally defeated at the hands of re-
publican irreconcilables and the blame
squarely placed there, the whole party
will suffer condemnation of the people,
now believed to be insistent upon both
parties and all factions in the Senate
abating last-ditch stand and as
sembling two-thirds vote for ratifica-
ton Of compromise.
Letters Show Demands,
Barring the small group of irrecon-
cilables, every republican of prominence
and influence in the party is said to be
In receipt of communications from the
countryside demanding that the Senate
compose the differences over the treaty
and ratify it. Away from the atmos-
phere of Washington and the closely
confined Senate circles this feeling is
known to be overwhelming in extent
Republican leaders everywhere re-
port a state of great political unrest,
of weakening of strict party lines in
both camps, and of increasing possi-
bility of some constructive man forg-
ing to the front with popular ideas
and carrying off the presidential prize
And. it is claimed. it would make but
little difference whether such a candi-
date ran under the democratic or re-
publican emblem.
If the democrats are worried over
the situation in their party occasioned
by Mr.. Bryan's drive, it is said to be
no less true that there is uneasiness
among republicans over the situation
in Congress as it now stands and
threatens to become.