Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-15
BODY BLOW
DELIVERED
TO TREATY
President Wilson Rejects Com.
promise Modification Of
Lodge on Article Ten in Let
ter to Senator Hitchcock.
DEMOCRATIC REVOLT
IMMINENT ON ROLL CALL

IMMINENT ON ROLL CALL
Four-to-Six Vote Margin
Claimed by Administration
Wilson Stand Emphatic
Against Real Reservations.
By ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune -Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, March 14.-President
Wilson has delivered another blow
to ratification of the German peace
treaty with reservations to the league
OF nations covenant protective Of the
special national interests" of the
United States.
1t transpired today that within the
last 48 hours there has been new
exchange of correspondence between
Senator Hitchcock. the democratic
leader OF the senate, and the White
House, ip which the president fatty
rejected the latest compromise on
article 10 and the revised version of
all other reservations put forward to
catch democratic votes.
Rejects Compromise Plan.
Mr.. Wilson returned the modih-
cations adopted and others suggest
ed in a letter IN which he asserted
that he found the revised reserva-
tions fully as multiplying Of the cove
nant as the original Lodge reservar
tons.
This was the presidents reception
OF the efforts Of Senator Simmons,
democrat, to work out compromise,
which would command a two-thirds'
vote OF the senate on the ratification
roll. call. Senator Simmons calcu-
lated that he was only two votes
short OF the requisite number when
the presidents latest pronuncia-
mento reached Senator Hitchcock
and upset the compromise program.
Several democrats who had prom
ised Simmons support Immediately
lodged back into the administration
lines and the North Carolina senator
abandoned his project.
With the president stiffening his
opposition to Reservations that really
reserve, the defeat of the treaty in
the senate this week is the prospect.
There is only one development that
can assure ratification and that is
the dcsertion ,of the White House
on the final roll call of about 80
democrats.
Four Vote Lead.
The spirit of revolt is strong on
the democratic side. particularly
among senator's who are candidates
for sre-election this year and dislike
the prospect of facing their con-
stitutents on the. presidents issue
OF the league without qualifications.
Senator Hitchcock is fully prepared
for the detection Of as many as rs
democrats who will vote for the
treaty with reservations on the rati-
ication roll call He is confident that
he can hold II in line and with the
Is republican and four democratic
irreeoncilables. defeat ratification
with the reservations By four votes.
Some there are who predict from
long experience with such situations
that there will be further break of
the democratic ranks at the last min
ute, sufficient to accomplish ratihca<
ton. But Senator Eorah, republican
irreconcilable, who has been one of
these prophets, has changed his mind
and now predicts the failure of the
treaty by from four to six votes.
The indications are that the sub
stitute reservation of article 10 will
be adopted tomorrow .NOn Tuesday
the senate is to consider some re-
manning reservations, including that
on Egypt and the Knox financial
provision. clearing the way for a
iual vote on Thursday or Friday.
Watch German Revolution.
Senators are divided in view of the
possible effect OF the German revo-
iution on the treaty. Senator Hitch
cock thought it would have no eff
feet. Senator Lenroot thought it
could only affect negotiation of a
new peace If this treaty fails.
This revolution" said Senator
Shields, democrat, indicates the
wars into which the United States
probably would be drawn if it be-
came a member of the league of ma
tions as drafted. 1t shows the in
advisability of the ratification of the
peace treaty and the league of ma
tons covenant"
at looks as though the party
which now has, assumed control, is
the same party with which President
Wilson refused to deal in negotiat-
ing peace before the close of the
war" said Senator Walsh of Mon
tana, democrat. "If that is so how
can we consistently go ahead ano
make a treaty with that party now:
cannot of course speak for The
president but it would seem to me
that under these circumstances the
treaty might be withdrawn from the
senate. On the other hand, if this
revolution is merely a change oi
power from one political party 10
another, with the republican form
Of government to continue, then the
treati could be made"