Evening star., 1923-04-17
DEMOCRATS BACK
WORLD COURT PLAN
Sentiment in Senate Favor
able to U. S. Entry, Can
vass of Members Shows.

A canvass Of sentiment among So
called Wilson democrats in the Sem
ate today indicates clearly that they
do not propose to be placed in the
position Of pulling the republican
frreconcilable" chestnuts out of the
fire, when President Hardings pro-
posal that the United States enter
the world court is taken up at the
next session of Congress.
Opponents of the entrance Of the
United States into the world court
set up through the agency of the
league of nations-undoubtedl are
seeking democratic support. They
hope close followers Of former Presi-
dent Wilson will refuse to vote for
the entrance of the United States into
the world court If there are reserva-
tions declaring that this action does
not connect up the United States and
the league in any manner, shape or
form.
Favorable Vote Likely.
The Wilson democrats, of course.
would prefer to have the United
States go into the court without any
reservations. they say. They will
vote against some of the reservations,
possibly all of them. But they are
strongly inclined to vote for the
entrance of the United States into
the court with the reservations, If
this action cannot be brought about
in any other way. This Is the word
from the stanchest supporters of the
former President in the Senate.
The democratic leaders themselves
do not look for more than three DEM
ocratic votes in opposition to the en-
not more than one
such vote. They rejoice that Presi-
dent Harding is getting away from
the policy Of isolation. they say,
though, frankly, they would prefer
to have him go much further.
that in their view a wrong interpre-
tation has been placed upon former
President Wilson's recent letter to
Representative Rouse of Kentucky,
chairman of the democratic congress
sional committee. in regard to the
did not mean that there should be no
entry of the United States into the
world court, except Internationally,
but that Mr.. Wilson did mean he de-
sired the adherence of this country to
the court without reservations
TrOuDle In u. U. r. RANKS.
The real stumbling block over the
Presidents proposal that the United
States enter the world court is found
in the ranks of the republicans
themselves. it appears. The repub-
licans realize that in the next ma
tional election they face a fight. They
the republican groups. They foresee
in the row over the world court, with
the republican irreconcilables oppos-
ing the proposal, chance for seri-
Gus division. Some of the repub-
licans for this reason are advising
the President against pressing the
world court proposal further.
But 1t was pointed out today that
there probably will be not more than
nine or ten republicans and demo-
cratic votes against the proposal;
that the. protocol can be taken up
Ing OF the next session of Congress
and pressed to a vote, and that the
issue will have been decided long be-
fore the campaign begins.
When Versailles treaty with the
league OF nations covenant was before
voted for the Lodge reservations,
which were unacceptable to President
Wilson and his democratic supporters
In the Senate, and after these reser-
Vations had been adopted, voted
against ratification.
To Ask Reservations,
When the world court PROPOSAL
comes before the Senate, President
harding will be in favor of certain
reservations. along the lines proposed
ny Secretary Hughes, making it sure
tnat the entrance into the court can
not be construed as meaning that the
United States is getting into the
The democrats. 1t is expected, will
oppose these reservations. If the re-
publican ifreconcilable group should
also oppose them and mustered sum
cient votes along with the democrats
70 defeat the reservations, then. in
deed, the proposal to enter the World
Court might be defeated. But the ir-
reconcflables would be stultifyinP
themselves IL they opposed the reser.
Vations by their vote, and also they
would be taking very long chances.
III President Harding continues to
advocate strongly the entrance of the
United States into the World Court.
and Is not called off by his political
advisers between now and December.
It seems almost certain that the pro-
tocal VIII go through. with the reser-
vAttOnS Urged bv IN p}e+r