The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-01-05
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLl.
CANS WANT ACTION ON
PEACE TREATY TANCLE

Washington, Dec. 27.-Dissatisfed
with the progress made toward solu-
ton of the peace treaty tangle, sena-
tors of both political parties moved
today to bring greater pressure on
their party leaders for compromise
to insure ratification promptly on the
reassembling of congress early in jan
uary.
The mild reservation group of Re-
publicans, notifying their party lead
er, Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts,
that in their opinion the time had
come to part company with the ire
concilable foes of the treaty, declared
that unless compromise negotiations
or more whole hearted support come
from the Republican side, they were
preparing to act independently for
an agreement with the Democrats.
/ Among the Democrats the move.
ment was not so we'll defined, but
criticism of the course of President
Wilson and Senator Hitchcock Of Ne
braska, the acting Democratic leader
reached proportions where some pre-
dicted that it soon would be given
tangible form. One prominent Demo-
cratic senator was said to have told
the Republicans that more than 30I
of the Al on that side would join al
movement to ratify the treaty atI
once on the best terms they could get.
The effect was scrambled situa.
tion in both party Of otganizations which
the leaders seemed confident they
could straighten out, but which the
compromise advocates predicted
would greatly strengthen the move
ment for bipartisan conference Of
those determined to ratify the treaty
at the expense Of material concessions|
on both sides.
Too Much Talk.
The feeling among those who are
ready to go ahead without their lead
ers seemed \, to be that the treaty
deadlock already had been prolonged
unnecessarily by too much non-com-
promise talk, and that both sides had
overplayed waiting game in the
hope that break would come in the
] opposition.
After their conference Sunday with
Senator Lodge, the mild reservation
Republicans seemed confident that he
; would take the iniative, if necessary,
; in carrying the compromise negotia.
tions forward. On Monday he saw
Senator Underwood of Alabama, q
prominent Democratic advocate of a
compromise, but it was said today
that their talk got no where.
{ Meantime it became known that the
s irreconciable group of Republicans
! had been bringing pressure to bear to
: induce the party leader not to consent
to any compromise proposals which
did not meet their approval. Senator
5 Johnson of California, one of the
leaders of this group, telegraphed to-
3 day that he would change his plans
: and return to the capital from his
: home state next week.
{ Situation Now Complicated.
s In the Democratic ranks the treaty
3 situation is complicated by the con-
test between Senators Hitchcock and
: Underwood for choice as party leader
s much of the talk for bipartisan
5 agreement coming from the Under
s wood supporters. The party caucus
S 'as been called for January Is to
& elect leader, and in the meantime
3 Republicans and Democrats appar-
; emily are doubtful as to who can
: speak with authority on the Democra-
{ tic side.
s Senator Hitchcock repeatedly has
s declared his willingness to make any
3 compromise which does not vitality
3 harm the treaty, but has indicated
& that he expects the next movement