The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-23


tionabiy turned the tide Presi-
dent Harding's own miSconceptIon
OF what the treaty covered hascbee1
responsible for the turn in Demo-
cratic sentiment and for a growing
opposition among Republicans.
Even the most ardent supporters
of the president win concede that
the situation has hardly been i'm
proved by the discussion over the
ambiguity of the phrases in the
treaty covering the mainland \of
Japan.
Boomerang for Lodge.
Already there is talk of reserva-
tions to clarity" but Senator
Lodge is reported in senate cloak
rooms as having said that any re-
servations would ruin the treaty"
The Democrats who are unalter-
ably opposed to the pact even with
reservations are bound to make the
most Of Senator Lodges attitude
If this should prove to be his ulti-
mate conclusion for il was Mr..
Lodge who insisted upon a long
series of reservations to the Yer
sailles treaty and contended that
President Wilson had fair warning
of the senate's attitude in the round
robin which was circulated just aft
er the covenant was published. 70
this the Democratic leaders reply
that no opportunity was given for
study of the text of the treaty be-
fore it was signed and that the
measure was negotiated in secret
session. The Democrats plan as
one step in their campaign against
the treaty to call for the proceed
ings of the secret sessions in Or
der to learn what other things the
American delegation may have
agreed to besides the French and
British Interpretation that the
mainland Of Japan was covered in
the pact.
Expect Harding Reply.
To this sort of tactics, it is not
only probable but most likely that
President Harding will answer
through Oscar Underwood, Demu-
cratic leader, who as a member OF
the American delegation, is pre-
sumed to be aware of everything
that transpirej. Mr.. Underwood
will therefore be in the position OF
defending the administration and
acting as its spokesman in lining
up Democratic votes. Those Dem
ocrats who anticipate that Mr.. I'm
derwood will be committed to vote
for the ratification of the treaty in
sist that he is the last man in the
world to ask ANYBODY in the senate
to vote against his convictions rs
he himself has maintained the
same right in the past and has en-
! couraged independence of action
| The feeling has been growing
among Democrats that Mr.. Under
| wood made a mistake in accepting
membership on the American dele
CATION in whose decisions he rep
resented only a minority voice and
| over whose actions he had so little
! to say since he has not been q
member of either the committees
which negotiated the naval agree
ment Of the four-power pact and
was in the position of having &c
accept what his three Republican
colleagues did without being able
to adopt a dissenting course.
Repubs Menace Pact.
Mr.. Underwood. however, is sur
rounded by a faithful group of
friends in the senate who will sup
port him on the four-power pact as
they did on the German treaty. The
danger to ratification lies rather
in the possibility of a Republican
and Democratic coalition Senator
McNary of Oregon, Republican,
wants reservations. Senator Ken
yon of Iowa, Republican, is report
ed as undecided Senator Hitchcock,
of Nebraska, Democrat, who voted
for the German treaty and indicated
some time ago that he might favor
the four-power pact, is inclined 70
be open minded about the new
| treaty and await the outcome of
the whole conference before reach
ing a decision Senator Johnson
of California, Republican, is in his
native state now keeping his ear
to the ground there. Some Demo
cratic senators think Mr.. Johnson
will support the treaty in order t.
| assure himself of administration
support in his campaign for re
!