Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1919 — SENATOR LODGE’S JOB [ARTICLE]

SENATOR LODGE’S JOB

It is apparently no easier for Senator Lodge to reconcile his composite majority to his program of "reservations” than it was to bring them to unanimity with respect to amendments to the treaty. Following the defeat of the first lot of amendments Mr. Lodge solemnly assured the people that there could be no ratification of the treaty without "effective’’ reservations, and., he permitted the impression that the adoption of these qualifications of America’s acceptance was to be a matter of only a few days’ time. Indeed, Mr. Lodge gave figures to support his prediction—or threat. The sequel shows that upon she question of "reservations” as upon the issue of amendments and every other vital proposition, the Republican majority in the senate is simply an aggregation of factions. There are Republican senators who are opposing “reservations” as vigorously as they opposed amendments; there are some who favor “strong” and others who prefer "weak” reservations; there is besides the coterie that wants to kill the treaty whether with the pludgeon of amendments or the club of "reservations’’—it is not particular which. All that Mr. Lodge has to do, therefore, is to harmonize these divergent elements; to induce them to accept his plans and leadership. That also was the only task he had with regard to amendments—and the public has an acute recollection of what happened. Already there are signs that Senator Lodge, who began as a sponsor of amendments and subsequently became a chamiplon of "reservations,” will be forced to shift his ground again and find himself ultimately in the company of “mild reservationlsts.”