The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-25
EXPECT To
SMOTHER
MOVE
Thirty Senators Already Lined
Up Against Representatives,
More Needed.
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
International News Service.

INTERNATIONAL
Adopting President HARDING s
own political tactics, Republican
''irreconciliable" leaders are hold
ing series of conferences here
with the "best minds" of their
own ranks to draft battle plans
against the Administrators world
court proposal, it was learned to-
day.
While those Republican "best
minds" friendly to the world court,
are visiting the White House to ad'
wise the President, q rival group
confer almost daily with Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge (RepO OF Mas
sachusetts and Senator Frank Bran
degee (Rep) of Connecticut, leaders
of the opposition AS a result OF
these unheralded sessions, the ire
concilables are reported to be con-
fident of victory If the world court
proposal is ever brought to vote
in the Senate. With g. twosthirds
majority necessary for ratification,
the irreconcilables hope to obtain
pledges for thirty-three votes
enough to defeat the proposal-be-
fore Congress meets in the fall.
Twenty.four Republican Senators
now are listed in the irreconcilable
camp, and ten OF these were said
to have been won over as result
Of the "best mind" conferences at
Senator Lodges home. The anti
court people claim u total OF thirty
votes to date, with five Democrats
and Senator Shipstead, the Farmer
Laborite, OF Minnesota, Joining the
Republican opposition. The irrecon-
cilables now are concentrating on
winning three more votes before
December, and the field is wide
open, for a dozen Senators are
ciassed as doubtful" on the court
issue.
The inner circle of the anti-court
ranks is comprised largely Of bitter
enders from the League Of Nations
fight. With Senators Lodge,
Brar1degee, Borah, LaFollette, John
son, Norris, Moses and Mccormick
all bitter enders" as nuclus,
the anti.court faction were Joined
by Senators Curtis of Kansas, Wat
son Of Indiana, Wadsworth Of New
York-all administration leaders
and B~ookhart of Iowa, Howell OF
Nebraska and Frazier of North
Dakota, followers OF LaFollette.
The best mind" conferences
however. were reported to have
added Senators Dillingham; Of Ver-
mont, Weller Of Maryland, Harreld
of Oklahoma, Reed of Pennsylvania,
Mclean Of Connecticut, Reyes OF
New Hampshire, Fernald Of Maine,
eddie of Nevada. Norbeck OF South
Dakota and Couzens Of Michigan to
the group.
The Democrats listed as OPP
ponents to the court, are Walsh of
Massachusetts,, Reed of Montana,
Shields Of Tennessee, Copeland Of
New York and Dill OF Washington.
With Shipstead, the group totals
thirty votes. ass
II the ''irreconcilables" should
win three more notes.-the total
necessary to insure rejection OF the
proposal by the Senate-the opinion
prevails here that it will never be
brought to a decision. 1t is under.
stood the opposition best minds
are seeking to prevent a factional
fights on the floor OF the Senate by
proving to the Administration be-
fore Congress convenes that the
proposed will be defeated.
With thirty-three votes pledged
against the court, the irreconcll-
ables believe the Administration
would abandon its proposal. On the
other hand, regardless Of Republi-
can disposition. the Democrats are
bound TO renew the subject in the
next Congress. 1t is for the double
purpose, too. Of defeating a Demo
cratic drive for ratification that the
,IfeconclIable best minds" are
now in session.