The Washington herald., 1919-09-24
POLITICS
By The 0eca sional Prophet

The conservative Republicans
have come TO see in the recent
prominence OF Senator johnson the
possibility OF the Bull Moose eIe-
ment getting control or at least
making a promising and dangerous
fight for control of the Republican
party.
That Is the view Of Clinton W.
Gilbert, Washington correspondent
OF the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
Gilbert says:
The Republican managers are in
haste to get the treaty out of the
way and remove the excuse for
Johnson's further prominence. They
I are trying to do this il necessary
without the votes OF Senators John
| son and Borah. should that issue
arise.
The Democratic leaders see the en-
oarrassment Mr.. johnson is to his
party. but are not sure what they
ought to do in tie premises. For
johnson. being a radical. might in
terfere with some OF their plans il
he grew too big. They would like
, time TO think II over and feel sure
before acting. They may now not
. be In such hurry as Mr.. Lodge
to get the treaty out OF tie way.
The President has been kept in
/ formed Of the johnson situation, the
view given in this correspondence be-
, ing suggested to the President as
the likely explanation.
! Senator johnson returned evidently
/ because he felt that the situation
Is so delicate as to require his per-
sonal attention.
| What has happened-the sudden
revelation of the crack that might
develop in the Republican party as
result OF the blind policy-blind
IN the conservative viewpoint at
lease. OF giving Johnson prominence
in the fight against wilson-makes
! for mild reservation.
This is true because Mr.. Lodge
must hurry to get the treaty out OF
the way. to quiet Johnson as much
as possible. To be sure, to do so
he must deal with the mildest of
reservationists Of the Republican side
and on the Democratic side. and
probab bly, also with Woodrow Wilson.
1f johnson and Borah elect to 20
with Lodge. it will be because they
want to stay with their party, to
avoid all appearance OF a break and
to work for a radical Republicanism
under the cover of a perfect regu-
larity. This motive, il it prevails,
will incline them to 60 further than
tlaJ had expected to in the direc-
ton of McCumber.
On the other hand the quick dis
posal Of the treaty will diminish
Johnson's Importance. His position
has hitherto been for delay. He
may continue to fight for delay. II
he does, on whom can he count?
Certainly not upon all or upon a
majority OF the bitter-enders. The
conservatives among them have
seen what they regard as the John
son danger. They WIN want to get
the treaty out OF the way. This will
make them incline toward mild res
| ervations and they will cover UP
their yielding by afterward voting
! to reject the treaty as they have
| always planned to do.
But Johnson probably can count
for aid from some Of his better-end-
| er associates. Poindexter is an old
| Bull Mooser, SO is Mccormick. Fall
/ is an old Roosevelt man and ex-
| tremely independent. Knox is a
strong personal friend of Johnson's
and his convictions on the treaty
| are strong.
This analysis. although it leaves
the individual action of the various
elements doubtful. all points in one
direction-toward mild reservation.
How mild they will be depends upon
whether johnson thinks his greatest
advantage is In keeping the treaty
subject open and himself prominent
or subordfnating himself and pre-
serving unimpeachable regularity.
Thus the whole league issue Is sub
ordinated to Presidential politics in
1870. The hatred of Wilson is more
or less forgotten for the moment in
| the fear OF johnson.