Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-23
anks Continue Pursuit of Bandits in Mexico
SENATE SPLITS
INTO FACTIONS
IN PEACE FIGHT
Group of Radical Eight"
Proves Thorn in Side
of Republicans.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

washington, ID. e.. aug. Z3--Out
in the open at last after nearly two
months of jockeying for position
are the three separate factions in
the United States senate who differ
on what the foreign policy of this
country should be in the future.
President Wilson himself has
driven into two camps those who
favor putting reservations in the
ratifying resolution and those who
would make such reservations as
| separate and distinct declara-
ton of American policy somewhat
similar to the Monroe doctrine, not
binding possibly upon other powers,
but binding upon the United States.
A third party hitherto confined
only to Senators Borah and John
son, Republicans. and Senator Reed,
! Democrat, has now arisen and or
I ganized. They are eight in num-
, Der. They constitute the radical
and irreconcilable opposition to the
peace treaty and the League of Ma
| tions and would not be disheart-
! ened il the whole document were
defeated and it were necessary to
negotiate a new peace with Ger
many. Senator Knox of Pennsyl-
vania has taken the leadership of
this group and with him are Sen
ators Meses of New Hampshire,
Brandegee of Connecticut, Poindex-
/ ter of Washington, Fall of New
Mexico and Borah, Johnson and
Reed.
Group Needs Watching.
! 1t is this group which should be
watched though some Republicans
were inclined to discount their i'm
portance. First, they were three
now they are eight. And here
and there they may get another
convert before the light is over
Their damage, however, Is not 50
much to the treaty for it will ulti-
mateIy be ratified, but to the lead
ership of the Republican party in
the senate within IA months of the
presidential election of 1920.
Senator Lodge, Republican lead
er. has been embarrassed by this
group from the beginning. He has
attended some of their meetings,
but more as harmonizer than sym
pathizer. He has been unable to
keep them in line. They have want
ed to do all sorts of radical things
I from pushing a resolution to de-
clare a separate peace with Ger
many to a separation of the league
covenant from the treaty and the
adoption of a general resolution
promising Europe aid whenever
emergencies arise. They have pull !
ed and hauled at Senator Lodge
while he has tried to steer a united
he oh nF
sension
Eight Reasons.
And why? The reasons are as
many as there are individuals in |
the group-eight reasons.
First, Senator Knox. He is a
former secretary of state and
also a former attorney general
and as such he feels qualified
to do his own leading He was
accustomed in his day to call
Senator Lodge to the depart
ment of state and direct the
chairman of the senate foreign
relations committee on admin .
istration policy. And his
friends and admirers believe
him not at all insusceptible of
being struck by the proverbial
lightning that brings presiden-
tial nominations to dark
horses" Naturally Mr.. Knox
doesn't take that seriously but
nevertheless he is impelled to
follow his own inclinations and
to interpret public opinion as
BELTS a man of his high pres
tige and position.
Senator Brandegee.
Second, Senator Brandegee of
Connecticut He is an able law
yer and possesses a keen and
analytical mind. His colloquies
with President Wilson were in
cisive and sharp. His disposi-
ton is to be a destructive crit
ic. Throughout his term of
service. he has rarely author
ed any constructive measure, /.
but he has found a good deal
of fault with the proposals Of L
others. and has brought about
amendments on many things
It is natural for him to pick
the treaty and league to pieces .
and it is also natural for him
to offer no substitute but to put
the burden of that on others
who are vested with the respon- [
sibility. Also he is persistent I
and courageous and he will
stick to his position whether
he deserts some of his intimate
friends and colleagues or his
party altogether.
Senator Johnson.
Third, Senator Johnson. Cal
ifornia. He came to the senate
not only after he was once a {
vice presidential candidate on
the famous bull moose ticket, {
but after a record as governor
that enabled him to carry his !
state by a 250.0OO majority at
the same time that a fellow
Republican. Charles Evans
Hughes. lost out entirely. Mr..
Johnson is being doomed for
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