New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-22
Dozen Revolving Senators
Appeal to State Leaders
for San Francisco Dele.
gates Approving Stand
Solid New England
Front Predicted
Rebellion Against Presi-
dents Domination To
Be Convention Feature
By Carter Field

from Ths T,ibune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 21.-Let-
ters written from Washington yes
terday and to-day make it doubtful
whether the San Francisco conven-
ton will demand unconditional rati-
fcation of the peace treaty. By the
same token the attitude taken by the
writer's of the letters seriously
jeopardizes the domination of the
convention by President Wilson, in
so far at least as the peace treaty
plank is concerned.
In urgent appeals to the Demo-
cratic leaders of more than a dozen
Northern and Western states Demo-
cratic Senators who broke from the
Wilson-Hitchcock leadership on Fri
day sought help in their embarrass-
ment. These Senator's do not want
the San Francisco convention to
adopt a plank demanding uncondi-
donal ratification of the treaty at
III. if they can avoid it.
Don't Want To Be in "Quitter" Class
Some of them would not mind such a
Ank. providing ii is so broadly drawn
nat 1t would not virtually read out of
the party Democratic Senator who
yessd to ratify the treaty with the
lsose rese ervations. These include SEN
slon Who opposed all the reservations
feispting the Gerry Irish reservation.
snleh was put on to load the treaty
ao'n and make it's defeat certain). and
sho decided after having followed the
resident that far that they could not
g the rest of the way demanded by
ADMINISTRATION leader Hitchcock and
niused to vote against ratification.
s'lll another group of Democratic
ssnators actually favored some of the
nseTations, and they are anxious that
'he national platform on which they
must hight for party success through
sne summer and fall should not be such
as to put them in the "contemptible
gutter" class.
This does not mean such Senators as
xeed, Of Missouri; Gore, Of Oklahoma;
Ssnleds, of Tennessee; Walsh, Of
massachusetts,, and Thomas, of Colo
isdo These Senator'S deted the Pres-
deht early in the treaty fight and voted
sgalnst him in November as we'll as
since
New England Against Plank
ui out such Senator'S as King, of Utah;
henderson and Pittman, of Nevada;
ennamoerain, of Oregon; Gerry, of
naooe nie Island; Pomerene, of Ohio;
'aisn' OF Montana, and many others
ae G profoundly disturbed over the pos
Moe political consequences of their
@uon IN voting to ratify the treaty
Oli Friday against the Presidents
An interesting phase of the politics
tnis situation, which has caused
p'.s plvn.ssiaerable discussion since the vote
ccalaay night, is that every Democratic
sssuator from the North and West with
s sc exception of Senators Hitchcock,
~. n Nebraska, and Johnson, of South
~. Hn.Ao'a, voted against the President.
i.!, inI Hitchcock. as Administration
leader, could scarcely vote otherwise
aen ne did. while Mr.. Johnson's term
ssapres soon and he is not candidate
Tor reelection.
ines. rnese Northern and Western Demo
,aSs .,S are getting busy in their states,
,ha;I thu 'hsend to see to it if possible that
F,.a F.'s delegations do not vote at San
uS;atS S;aS'sco Tor eny platform plank
"nsh ms would embarrass them.
a., a"e TACT that Senator Gerry on Fri
sss hlgnt Joined this nervous group
vi Scnatois who refused to 90 the
.noie length desired by President Will
So., om removed the last shadow of
us.: usaot so far as the New England sit
,;..,, ssuOn Is concerned 1t has been prac-
ss;aly conceded by New England poll
sans .,..A tnat the entire six Northeastern
Ss0s SSsases would send delegations to San
ds,aNco d,anc'sco "a total of eighty eight
s,ailgsse sirlgs1es IN all-who would be con-
Ms.sea Dy Senator David /. Walsh, of
fsvssachusetts. Mr.. Walsh not only
ho, hO'ea reservations, and strong ones,
amendments.
., Similar Situation in South
xo.tI .he most ardent Administration sup
srs n,'ers rs DO not cherish any hope that
fos New England delegates will vote
xor,s plank in the platform which
1cs demand unconditional ratifica-
litss,,o. ol the treaty. They are far more
Bn, 20 20 60 to the other extreme.
and W. ~ ADDITION to every Northern
nd nd sSe,h s"estern H.. state, except Nebraska
trsh,so ,nouth Dakota, there are consid-
,ns '.S ~ number of Southern states with
the D p.o TWO Senators who voted against
treatr. r.1esident at some stage Of the
dor proceedings. Both Florida Sem
Lode. voted for ratification with the
sali1 ~ acservations, and Senator Tram
stcr Hn,e HrIied Tor some reservations. Sem
Mted d".se s Smith, of Georgia, not only
sssu ssso!d vote against the treaty. @ 'i'' II they
bsr ID a0s adopted, as he did on Novem-
bssks senator Ransdell, of Louisiana,
loar' Wy way on the final roll call, as did
NoleotWt a!sss. ffhith, Of Maryland, and
iSSs1 - ..kl2ware.
1stl 81 n.rso 20 this is the Texas situation.
a ocrssso Senators from Texas
0esssausd snN nsxt pass