The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-12
DEMOCRATS ID BE WITH UNDERWOOD
 IN TREATY Fl t H I
Few Members of Party Will Vote Against Achievement of ParIey-PaCtS Will
 Be Ratified
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau. The AEe-Herald,
 ROO TnvfdaOp RuiIdins

500 Davidson Building.
 Washington. February 11.-(Spe- cial.l accumlates that the democrats of the Senate will follow the advice of their leader. Senator Underwood. and eschew politics in their treatment of the international paets entered into by the Washing ton conference.
 There will be democratic votes against ratification. But they will bs votes cast in sincerity by demo- crats who believe that entangling alt dances of every character are inim- ical to the peace of the United States. The chances are that there will be no vote cast against the trea- ties because they were prepared un- der the supervision of a republican administration, because In their con summation, the republican party in a measure. will be the beneficiary, or because the republican senators proceeded against the Versailles treaty not without a purpose to dis credir President Wilson and the dem ocratio administration.
 The treaties will be ratified. It is unquestionably true that they are in- dorsed by the American people. But 1t is entirely erroneous, In the opin- ion of Senator Underwood and other leading democrats. that the demo- crats. at the polls. will not receive their meds of credit in proportion given.
 Underwood Wins Party
 The present fortunate situation came about despite certain ominous indications to the contrary. In the beginning, democrats were antago- nistic if not bellicose. Some of the moro ardent urged Senator Under wood to decline to serve. When he did serve and his active cooperation produced obvious results. there were whispers that his usefulness as a leader had been exhausted.
 From the beginning. however, Sen ator Underwood had preached a doc Urine of no politics. Tn an e1clu- sive interview with this bureau he declared that 1t would be folly for the democrats either to refuse CO., operation or to attempt to check mate or handicap. It was his idea that if tho conference failed, the re- publicans would have to bear Ye- sponsibility. whereas if 1t succeeded democrats would come in for their share of the credit
 Now, after the conference Is over and the treaties are in the Senate Senator Underwood repeats his for mer interview. And as stated, the democrats. as 8 rule. will support the treaties Evidently. they see the sit uatlon as Senator Underwood sees IL.
 The One Achievement
 Under the republican administra- tion,' said Senator Underwood to- 12rR A.Na IL. struck a responsive chord in the hearts of the people. has. in other words. met the approval of the peo- pie.
 That achievement was the achieve rnent of tho Washington conference. The country will approve the net results, although 1t will express re- gret that the conference did not re- duce land forces. There will be no wide disapproval. however, of the naval holiday. with attendant reduc- tion in appropriations and taxation; of the elimination of slumberlng an- imosity between the United States and Japan; of the severance of the alliance between England and Japan; and of the adjustment of the shan tung tangle.
 Tn view of the foregoing, obvious ly 1t would be a mistake for demo- crats to assail the work of the con ference. It's achievement is popular. If we effectuate that achievement by ratification without resort to partisan tactics. the country will not withhold from us our share of the credit or reward"
 To Share Reward
 Senator Underwood suggested that nothing would better please some of the republican politicians than for the democrats to play politics with the treaties.
 Up to the present time" he con tinued, democrats are given credit for having conducted themselves as patriots. To the man we supported the Borah resolution under the pro- visions of which the conference sat. The republicans. In the main, op- posed that resolution until 1t wa1 common knowledge that 1t would l{ enacted despite their opposition. h the conference, itself. we responded not as politicians but as citizens of the United States. There has been no criticism aimed at us. If we con tinue this program. the republicans, when time comes for the nation 70 bestow reward, will be disconcerted | in that democrats will come in for | their share.
 There are innumerabie causes for | a general procedure of democrats | against republicans In the forth | coming congressional elections. But l ha AI Ia t-xr |