Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-01-16
FORMAL COMPROMISE: NEGOTIATIONS ARE BEGUN BY THE SENATE: Hope of Agreement is Renew
 ed by Meetings of Leaders FAIL TO ELECT
 MARTINS SUCCESSOR Bryan Visits Capital and Urges on Both Republicans and Demo-
 crats Prompt Action on
 Pact

crats Prompt Action on
 Washington, Jan. 15.--At a bi- partisan "round table" conference of senate leaders late today, formal negotiations toward a compromise on reservations to the peace treaty were inaugurated. While no agree ments were reached at the meeting which was participatd in by four republicans and five democrats prominent in recent informal nego- tiations, and which lasted two hours, another meeting will be held Saturday and in senate circles to- night there was renewed hope of 8 compromise.
 The conference in which Republi- can Leader Lodge and Senator Hitchcock, administration leader, were leaders, followed then success full attempt of democratic senators to elect leader to succeed the late Senator Martin of Virginia. After two attempts to break a tie vote of 19 to 19 on Senator Hitchcock and Senator Underwood of Alabama, the two candidates, the caucus adjourn ed subject to the joint call of the two senators. Another caucus is planned after Carrer Glass, senator elect from Virginia, an Underwood supporter, takes his seat but the results stil lremans in doubt be- cause of the position of Senator Smith of Georgia, who withheld his vote today and took no sides for or against either MT. Hitchcock or MT Underwood.
 Another development today in the treaty situation was visit to the capital by Wm. J. Bryan, The former secc"tary of state conferred with several republicans, as we'll as democratic senators, urging an i'm mediate compromise on treaty re- servations. He also advocated his plan of withdrawal of democratic participation in voting on the treaty if compromise negotiations should fail, suggesting that the democrats decline to vote and permit the re- publicans to ratify the treaty alone and accept sole responsibility.
 First Practical Step.
 The conference between the demo- cratic and republican leaders was characterized by Senator Lodge as "the first practical step" in the compromise negotiations. In addi- tion to Senator Lodge and Hitchcock, the conferees were Senators New of Indiana; Lenroot of Wisconsin and Kellogg of Minn S.-s.a, republicans; and Senators McKellar of Tennessee, Simmons of North Carolina; Walsh of Montana and Owen of Oklahoma, democrats.
 Both delegations were chosen in formally and were said to be with out specific authority to act Tor their respective s.des, but leaders hope that subsequent negotiations will result in compromise which will muster the two-thirds vote necessary to ratification.
 The Lodge reservations were the basis of discussion at the confer ence. While no formal suggestions in writing for their modification were presented by the democrats verbal suggestions were made by the democrats and these Senator Lodge said were taken under advise ment by the republicans. Before the negotiations are concluded it is ex- pected that formal drafts of com promise proposals will be brought forth.
 After his, conference with sena> tors, MT. Bryan in talk with news paper men, emphasized his belief that large majority of the Ameri- can people desire immediate ratifica- tion. Prompt action he said would accomplish these two results:
 Doubtful on Wilson.
 First, it would take the question out of politics and permit both par ties to turn their attention to very important domestic issues.
 Second. an agreement would per init ratification by a larger major ity than in any other way and that would give the greatest possible weight to our action and influence abroad.
 His previously expressed sugges- tion that the democrats of the sen- ate withhold their votes and let the republicans ratify the treaty with their reservations, Mir. Bryan said, should only be last resort if com promise negotiations failed.
 "An appeal could be made to the country" he continued, "to reverse in the league of nations any action taken by the senate and to author ize restoration of any provisions stricken out and in my opinion the democratic party could make much more successful fight before the peo- ple for authority to restore than it can for authority to retain provis- ions, if it must share responsibility for the republicans for fourteen months delay"
 Asked whether he believed the president would approve a com promise set of reservations, MT. Bryan answered.:
 q do not know that anybody is authorized to, say what the president will accept, and don't think it is fair to ask in advance what he will ac- Aept or for him to suggest changes that would put him where he might he accused of breach of faith"