New-York tribune., 1920-02-29
Presidents Intention to
Pigeonhole Covenant
if the Reservation Is
Adopted Is Admitted
Hitchcock's Shift of
Tactics Explained
Democratic Senators Now
Aim to Saddle Blame
for Defeat of League
Upon the Republicans
By Carter: Field

From The TrIbune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2s.-Presi,
dent Wilson personally will kill the
peace treaty by pigeonholing it if
the Senate ratifies with the Lodge
reservation to Article X. He told
this to Democratic Senator sent by
Senator Hitchcock and other Admin
astration Senators within the last
forty-eight hours.
This is the explanation of the sud,
den shift of Senator Hitchcock's po-
fition-to fight to prevent ratifca
tlon rather than a fight to force
ratification. The Administration
group in the Senam is now working
to prevent the President being forced
to take the entire responsibility for
defeating the treaty.
The Presidents determination to
Kill the treaty if the reservation to
Article X is retained also explains
the motive for the poll taken yester-
Fay by Senators Hitchcock and
underwood, which showed ten more
Senators than necessary to prevent
ratification if the President desires
to prevent the treaty going through.
They found twenty-four Senators
who were willing to vote against
ratification if the President desired
Them to do SO. In addition, Sena-
tors Reed and Thomas will vote
against the treaty, anyhow, making
fwenty-six Democrats in all.
Put Onus on Republicans
From the Democratic standpoint it
- desirable to kill the treaty in the
Senate, rather than to have the Pres
7dent kill it alone, for another reason
fhan the mere desire to protect the
president. The other reason is the
desire to put as much of the response
bllity for the death of the treaty as
possible on the Republicans.
BY voting against the treaty because
OF the Article X reservation, the Ad-
mlnlstration leaders think they can
put much of the responsibility on those
senators who vote in favor of the
Article X reservation.
Senator Hitchcock and his friends
pad intended to keep the Presidents
Intention to pigeonhole~ the treaty Sc
fret. The news got out tonight. how
ever, after Democratic Senator mott
ueo Republican with whom he had q
pair that he could not keep it, Asked
Why, the Democratic Senator admitted
ne would have to stand by the Presi-
gent and help kill the treaty if the
lodge reservation to Article X should
pc adopted, and therefore he could
not be paired. The Republican Sena-
Sor promptly notified other Republi-
cans, and Senator Hitchcock, when
questioned, admitted the whole story.
Disclosure Annoys Hitchcock
-, Mr.. Hitchcock and other Administra-
I,on leaders were much distressed that
the news had gotten out They sug-
gested that this publicity would make
any attempt to compromise impossible,
and all were gloomy as to any chance
OF ratification
Senator Watson, on the Republican
side, after canvass of the situation
Tonight, said they only needed five
.otes to obtain ratification of the
treaty, and he hoped they would gain
mem. He had conference with Sen
stor Walsh, of Montana, urging ac-
ceptance of the Lodge reservations and
ratification.
Senator Borah also made canvass
OF the Senate, and he asserted that
{hose desiring ratification of the treaty
lacked nine votes of enough, and there
was no chance of obtaining them.
1t was generally admitted tonight
that II the treaty again is rejected, as
now seems almost certain, there will
ne no effort TO revive it again before
the election.
Alliance With Borah Charged
The alliance between Senator Hitch
cock and the "irreconcilables" to de-
seat ratification of the treaty was ex-
posed in the Senate to-day.
i. The bitterest partisan debate that
fas occurred on the treaty in the Sem
$te followed the exposure, and after
@our hours of heated discussion the
eenate adjourned, after adopting an
agreement to vote on the domestic
questions reservation at 2 o'clock
Monday.
:. The exposure Of the alliance between
she "irreconcilables' and the fAdminis-
tfatlon followers to kill the treaty was
made by Senator Kellogg, of Minnesota,
one OF the mild reservationistS. SEN
s,or Kellogg charged that Senator
11itchcock had entered into an agree
Went with Senator Borah. as leader
OF the "irreconcilables" 50 to amend
Continued on 7,ert page