The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-02
JOHNSON TOLAUNCH +.
ATTACK ON LEAGUE
Speech in Senate Will Clear
Way for Presidential
Announcement.
LIBERALS AGAINST DELAY
Danger Seen in Strength Of
Gen. Wood-Unity Hoped
For by Early Action.

WASHINGTON. Juno 1.--Senator John
son CCal) will speak on the peace treaty
and League Of Nations In the Senate as
early as recognition can be secured to-
morrow. It Is known that he will in
dulge in an elaborate consideration and
analysis. especially of the league COW
enant with special reference to showing
wherein he considers the United States
will surrender vital elements OF its con-
t.ol over its own destiny.
The Senator heretofore has made II
Diain that he regards Article 10 as ut
terly impossible OF acceptance, and his
Colleagues who are more or less
familiar with the line of his argument
believe his speech will be one Of the most
important during the months of discus
sion. Opponents Of the covenant have
felt that II the public had q more ac-
curate understanding of the operating
effects of this pact there would be a
still more rapid drift Of sentiment away
from the leagues advocacy.
There Is a desire to induce leaders OF
public thought everywhere to devote
themselves to genuine study Of the con-
dtions that would ensure II the league
pact were substituted for the present
,nodus operandi of handling inter
national relations. The Johnson speech
is looked on to inspire just this sort
of consideration.
Gun i'm Presidential Campaign.
y Senator Borah (Idaho), who IL re-
earded as the foremost of uncompro-
missing antagonists Of any league what
ever. said he expected the johnson ad-
dress to be among the most important
that will be contributed to the discussion
at any stage.
There are. however. especial reasons
for the peculiar interest which attaches
10 Mr.. Johnson'a address at this time.
Dnlcss plans now IN process Of formula
lion are changed Unexpectedly there will
he announcement In the near future of
he determination by the Liberal Repub-
Leans In Congress to unite in support
IF Mr. johnson for the Republican Presi-
dental nomination.
This step will mark the most i'm
portant move in the pre-convettion cam
paign thus far developed in either politi-
cal party. For many months conjec-
lures have been busy with the names of
various Republicans as Presidential pos
sibilities. Recently circumstances have
caused a focusing of the Liberal Re
publican sentiment In favor Of Mr.. John
son. The Liberals have realized that un-
among themselves their strength would
be dissipated.
A large number of delegates might be
brought into the national convention IL
Senators Borah, Poindexter (wash.)
Cummins Ua.) and johnson were all
candidates In the role Of favorite sons,
but the effectiveness of these delegations
would be seriously impaired II they were
secured merely on the favorite son ar
gument-
VIII strive for Unity.
II has been felt that a strong effort
must be made to attain unity and pre-
vent a retrogression from the command
ing position which the Liberal Tactics,
occupied SO long as Col. Roosevelt lived
and was accepted as the party leader.
Other developments of recent months
have accentuated in the view OF the
liberals the Importance of getting to-
gether and presenting a united front to
the country. One was the development
OF the Taft strength In various part OF
the country. which, in view of President
Wilson's League Of Nations programme
has come to be considered a menace to
party unity. But this is not the only
thing that has moved the liberals to-
ward an early announcement Of their
position.
In addition to the Taft movement in
the Midwest and HARVEST, the cam
paign supporters OF Gen. Wood have
lately been attaining an Importance that
could not permit II to be overlooked. Its
strength has been largely in the same
sections where also the strength OF
Taft is more noted. Taft is OF course
particularly Objectionable to the veteran
Liberals who led the detection from him
In 1909 and 1910 ct1lminat ting In the
party split in 1912. They would not
under any considerations regard the de-
yelopment OF a serious Taft sentiment
as anything less than a party disaster
They would not be irreconciable to Gen
Wood, although he is not their choice,
They want a different kind OF candi-
date who would place the campaign on
different plane.