The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-03-08
DEMOCRATS
ARE EAGER TO
KNIFE LODGE
Revenge Will Be Taken for
His Attacks on Wilson and
the League of Nations
Are After His Scalp.
SENATOR IS WORRIED
BY MARK SULLIVAN

Is TO be found between the lines OF the
following colloquy between Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts and Senator
Joseph Robinson of Arkansas Sen
ator Lodge as the sponsor of the four
power treaty had announced his in
tention of calling it upon future date
and thereupon the following ensued:
MIR. Robinson: Did the senator
from Massachusetts indicate whether
he would open the discussion on the !
four-power treaty?"
MIR. Lodge: i made no statement
about what | am going to do, except
|. that would not call the treaty up to- /
3day unless some senator desires to ,
speak upon it now"
"Mr. Robinson: L would like to
hear the senator discuss the matter.
I am very much interested in hearing
his views, and would like to know
whether he expects to speak on 1t or
not
MIR. Lodge: 4 think | shall. III
The senator wishes to know what my
personal plans are, | am disposed toi
wait until / can hear the obJectlons
10 it, ! expect TO speak before the
treaty is voted upon. =
Mr.. Robinson: But the senator
does not expect to open the discus
sion?"
Mr.. Lodge: 81 do not, at present
Not What it Seems
Now to those distant from Wash
ington all this might appear TO be
merely a polite request for informa-
tion and an equally polite reply. In
deed it would be possible for guile
less and unsuspicious reader to see
in this exchange not only politeness
but something more. 1t might seem
To be in the field of exalted gracious
ness.
1t would be possible to think that
the senator from Arkansas has such
a high regard for the eloquence, the
chaste diction, the refined logic OF
the senator from Massachusetts that
he didn't want to run any risk OF be-
ing absent from the senate whenever
the senator from Massachusetts should
happen to make his speech on the
four-power treaty, for which he is
responsible. This colloquy, | say,
might be subject TO that interpreta-
ton, but it would be very far indeed
from the true one.
viii Smoke Out Lodge
Tho fact is that the Democrats got
ihe idea, and good many others got
Athe idea, that Senator Lodge was dis
posed to evade making any speech on
the four.power treaty, if he could
manage it. He knew and still knows
that the Democrats are going to do
some penetrating upleasant things to
him And as the Democrats put 1t
Senator Lodge was under suspicion
of wanting 10 duck under the lily
pads" of wanting to dodge taking his
licking. But by the same token the
democrats are determined TO smoke
him out.
When Senator Robinson kept fore
ing his question home, he wasn't so
much concerned about what Lodge
was going to say in his speech. He
was concerned about what he and the
other Democrats are going to say to
] odse.
This is the Democratic opportunity
10 get even with Lodge for what Lodge
said about Wilson, and any true pic
ture of the Democratic senators at any
time during the past four weeks
would show them sitting in cheer
iul circle with their whetstones and
their knives. going through the leis-
urely but careful motions that reflect
contented anticipatons of a happy
time soon to come.
Same Lapses.
Not only does the situation offer the
ordinary delights OF a chance to get
even, further than that. Lodge as
sponsor of the fourpower treaty, has
made exactly the same lapses, has
showed precisely the same forgetful-
ness about facts that other folks con-
slider essential. which the Republicans
charged against Wilson. making them
the occasion for the most malevolent
lisagreeable insnuations.
~ All that brood has now come flock
ing home TO roost. Lodge himself
knows perfectly well what is coming
to him. He isn't in any doubt about
the veiled urbanity of these questions
the Democrats ask as to when they're
going TO have the pleasure of listening
10 such literary art as he may devote
10 expounding the four-power treaty
Lodge showed that by the acerbity he
couldn't conceal when he was answer
ing one of these questions from Sen
ator France, of Maryland. The col
loquy was:
Senator France Astonshed
Mr.. France: The senator from Mass
achusetts has said that he did not pro
pose. in presenting this treaty. to say
anything in explanation OF it until he
had heard the objections. ! am sur
prised that the distinguished senator
from Massachusetts should make sucl
q statement.
Mr.. Lodge: Mr.. President. / have
not any objection to the senator say
ing anything he wants to. but he mus
allow me the poor privilege OF makins
speech. when | please, without ad
vice from him.
"Mr France: Mr.. President, woulC
not of course, presume upon m!
friendship and my warm admiration
for the senator from Massachusetts Il
The extent of giving him advice. but
think it is proper for me to express
regret that such a great treaty as thi
should be brought into the senate ant
6vlaid before us with the implication
q. hat the Senators must vote for II
with many of them having pledge
themselves to vote for it. without
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