South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-11
BIC PERCENTAGE
Of c. D. P. PRESS
SUPPORTSLEAGUE
Will H. Hays Trying to Find
Way in Which to Retreat
Gracefully.

proposal for a League Of Nations are
the subjects Of the kecnesI possible
interest in political circles here this
week. This conclusive proof that
some OF the most powerful OF repub-
hcan papers have refused 20 join the
opposition to the presidents plan in
dicates why. within the last three
weeks. leaders Of their party are re-
treating from their first position Of
outright hostility 20 any league or TO
a strategic stand" for the genera
idea" but not the scheme proposed
BY Wilson"
In the latest issue 70. ne republi-
can national committees weekly or
gan there is a long. laborious edito-
rial which attempts TO furnish an
alibi for the party and 10 explain
that there never was republican OBJ
lection TO any league but the one adj
vocated by Pres't Wilson. IL is now
confidently forecast here that there
viii be a change OF front among re-
publican leaders before the covenant
10 be adopted at Paris is submitted
% the senate for ratification. This
Will come by way OF preparing the
public for a complete reversal on the
part Of the senators who signed the
round robin" and the orators who
Jared through the land denouncing
the League OF Nations and Pres't
Wilson as "un-American."
Party OF the Past.
While in Washington recently,
samuel NJ. Ralston. former governor,
discussing the Indiana situation for
n WASHINGTON paper, insisted that
the republican party would become
an organization OF the past if it con-
tinued in it's opposition TO the
league. He insisted that the repuD-
Iican leaders must abandon such eff
forts as resulted in the dinner at the
Columbia club at which George Har-
vey, for the edification Of Gov.
Goodrich and an assembly of repre-
sentative republicans, denounced ev-
cry form of a League OF Nations.
u is believed here that Sen. New
and his personal organization either
is determined to fight It out 70 a
finish with Pres't Wilson and sup
porters Of the league and that he
will refuse 10 listen 10 any warning
from VIII II. Hayes. republican ma
tional chairman, or that Hays was
unable TO reach him and advise with
him before New made his recent
speeches. II New continues his cam
paign against the league, the first
assumption will be correct.
To assist Hays in convincing him
that he mus. retreat, as Hays and
others already have done, a review
of the Literary Digest poll is offered
Goodrich, n
any Of the other republican leaders
VINO may have been or who are now
opponents Of the league.
G. o. r. Papers support Wilson.
OF 1877 papers canvaSsed, more
than 81 percent were favorable "a
the league. There were more papers
frankly supporting the league than
there were papers against and pa
pers placed in the doubtful class
com bined. Republican papers with
q total circulation OF approximately
1000. 600 favor the league without
qualification. Republican papers
with only about % percent of this
circulation are opposed TO the
league. without the "dOubtfuls" the
opposition is not worthy of consider
alton and the "dOubtfuls' are ready
to support some form of a league
though they are hesitating a little
in expressing confidence in the work
OF Pres't Wilson. 1t is evident that
were he other than a democrat. they
would be among those supporting
the league.
Even on the Pacific coast, where
IL was believed there would De strong
found that as percen. of the paper.
in Oregon. Washington and Califor-
MIA were league supporters In al
other sections OF the country the
same story is told. And IL wa,
pointed out that the magazine tool
its poll upon the covenant criticised
by the republicans ana not upon tbs
general idea OF a League of Nations
Would Make Retreat.
HAYS is carrying that same mes
sage back to Indiana for il is knOwT
now that considerable of the inside
information which ne obtai q OF
his recent trip through the a wa,
that the republican leaders mus
abandon their attacks on the pro
posal TO create a League of Nations
and that their must be a graceful
retreat from that stand.
II HAYS did not hear the back fir,
from the Harvey meeting in Indian
apolis. he was either desf or did no
care 20 hear 10. Since that meeting
there has been a constantly eN
pressed fear among Indiana repub
ncans here and among the leader
OF the party that the people viii re
member that Harvey meeting an'
that republican leaders of Indiana
and especially Gov. Goodrich. set IN
stage for such a speech IL Is q
undo just such work as the Harvey
Goodrich work on that night in In
diana polls that the national republi
can organ. edited by an indian'
man. - now struggling IN 10 Is no
successful and If the voters continu
10 believe that the only original de
sire OF the republican leaders wa
10 prevent the organization OF an
League OF Nations which WoodrOg
Wilson offered then. as Gov. RAJ
ston says. the republican party i
through