The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-02
FRISCO STILLFOR
WILSON IN SPITE
Of LODGEATTACK
Lawrence Finds Far Western
Section of Country Much
Divided Over Wisdom Of
Senator's Move.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
(The News Selmitar's Special CorrO'
SpondentO

SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, May 2,-out
here> they look upon he Republican
leadership in congress as on trial, hence
extraordinary interest was observable
here in the wisdom or unwisdom OF
Senator Lodges statement differing
with President Wilson on the Italian
| question. The Pacific coast is strong
" Republican and wants to vote that
way next time, but 1t has by no means
lost Its progressivism or liberalism.
To say the least, the Determined
problem, his bold appeal to the world
on a vital principle Of foreign policy,
has served. to rally somewhat a dimln-
ishing prestige, for the intensely Amer
lean spirit rules strong in the veins
Of the far Westerners and party lines
n at coast with them, The prepond-
erance Of Americans in this section
seem to be anxious to stand behind the
president. EeVeral influential men
were at q loss to understand Senator
Lodges position, but the views OF the
political following varied some. To be
sure, some approved his STAN and said
II. was excellent politics. l asked ono
because there are more Italian votes
in this country than Croatian votes,
was his blunt reply. ! told him / Pc
lieved 1t uncomfortable that Mr.. Lodge
had any such idea in mind when he tel
the italian constituents of his district.
But this Republican thought 1t was an
excellent stroke. His enthusiasm was
cans, especially the followers of Sena-
tor Hiram Johnson. He approved Mr.,
Wilson's course in the Italian problem.
Most of these Republicans who are
openly against oo an Ea nrSasse lead to see
. great mistake In the ISSUANCE OF that
statement by Mr.. Lodge. They
claimed that the leadership OF the Mas
sachusetts senator had been RESPONSE
BILE for the unfortunate tactics In con-
nectiou with the round robin on the
league Of nations and that only with
difficulty had Elihu Root extracted the
Republican party from an embarrass-
over in the Democratic camp there
was an inclination to derive some sat.
isfAction over Mr., Lodges statement
on the ground that u would produce a
reaction IN favor OF President wilson
wind out OF the sails Of those political
opponents who claimed the Republican
: party was aiding n not obstructing
the. president IN his peace negotiations
One Democrat, who was rather indig4
! nant over the Lodge statement, insist
cd that he saw no difference between
. the Massachusetts, senator's telegram
: the solicItude which senator stone. Of
i Missouri, or Senator La Toilette. OF
Wisconsin, used toward the large Ger
man populations IN their respective
: states when. Mr.. wilson was IN the
: midst Of critical negotiations with Ger
, So much for the Italians problem,
: What is said out here In q state that
: tipped the scales m favor OF President
J test OF 1915, is significant Of how the
. Pacific coast Republicans feel about
. things Eastern. As a matter OF fact.
Z this notion that the East. falls to a X
into consideration the wishes ana iSess
Q parties, l find, for example, the Bit
terest kind OF resentment here among
leading Democrats against what they
call he Texas domination OF the Dem.
y the retirement Of Mr.. Burleson as post
master general
J., Il Is Interesting to know that there
n Is q movement. on foot which Is daily
i gaining strength to unite the 20 West.
10 ern senators, Republicans as we'll as
,r Democrats, so that they may present
J. a solid front on Western matters and
obtain a hearing and consideration In
q those vital policies In which the Wesl
# feels it has been neglected by the Dem
n ~ocratie administration, and fears 1T mas
be similarly neglected by a Republican
d regime,
i jority OF the people Of California are
- Tor safe and sound leadership, yet witt
no compromising on fundamentals
& Asked for a definition of the kind OF
y man they would like to see nominated
Y and elected for president next time,
O. there is a surprising uniformity in the
answers obtained from both parties,
each wants "a man with vision and
: with his feet on the ground"
] San Francisco is a Wilson town
Northern California. in 1915 swung the
state. They still feel here that they
= elected q president In that year. In
some places Wilson has lost prestige
Ia here, largely on his tolerance Of men II
the cabinet, who, 1t il charged, dis
=. eliminated against the West and in IA
is vor OF the East. But his position or
the league of nations has strengthened
re him considerably, and the comment OF
d the Italian question has been so uni.
formly In his favor that Mr.. Wilson car
N be held high in the esteem of the PEG
re pie Of California, and even though crit
st ical of his nlethods they appear to b.
strongly sympathetic with the leader
l. ship OF PresideHe Wilson in these clos.
I'd ing hours of the greatest international
conference of history.
Copyright, 1919, by the New York
INynNtnx Deaf Tnn