New-York tribune., 1919-12-27
Senate ssIrrcconcilables''
Demand Candidates of
All Parties Declare Stand
ON Compact and League
Delegates Also Included
QUESTIONABLE Program AT.
fects Aspirants for All
Sorts of Local Offices
By Carter Field
Ne0 York Tribune

NeW York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-The league
of nations and peace treaty are to be
forced into the Presidential campaign
as an issue whether the treaty is rati-
fed or not, "irreconcilable" Senators
declared to-day
Every candidate for President of
either party, it is declared, is to be
called on to say how he stands with
regard to league and treaty, and this
QUESTIONABLE process is to be carried
down the line, not only to delegates
TO the national conventions, but to can
didates for all sorts of local Offices.
There is to be an organization in
every state north Of the Mason and
Dixon line, Senator William E. Borah,
spokesman for the "irreconcilables, "
asserted, adding that the organization
already has been completed in six
states. He declined to give the list,
but it was learned that West Virginia
is one of them. AS West Virginia is
conceded to be for her "favorite son."
Senator Howard E. Sutherland, who
supported every reservation and every
amendment proposed to the peace
treaty by the Foreign Relations Com
mittee, the task there is not expected
to be difficult.
Regarded as Johnson Movement
Senator Borah is not an avowed
candidate this year. although he was
mentioned for the Presidency in 1912
and 1916. He has committed himself
to the candidacy of Senator Hiram
Johnson, of California. who meets this
test to be applied to candidates to
the entire satisfaction of the "irrecon-
c!lables."
Republican Senators, who sre for the
treaty, although they insist on reser
vations to protect American interests,
professed considerable amusement at
this stand of the "irreconcilables," that
they would carry the treaty issue into
the campaign.
"It's just a move K attract atten-
tion to the Hiram Johnson candidacy,'
said one Of them. "All the reports
from the West show that the Johnson
boom has been diminishing, rather than
growing, and his friends, including Mr..
Borah, want to do something to blow
the breath Of life into\it again"
The "irrcconsilables" deny this,
pointing out that the Senatorial cam
didates for the Presidential nomina-
ton, not only Senator Johnson, but
Senator Harding, Of Ohio; Senator
Sutherland, of West Virginia, and SEN
ator Poindexter, of Washington, all
meet their test.
New Party Threatened
In this connection it might be pointed
out, however, that neither Senator's
Harding nor Sutherland would suit
those Of the 'irreconciable" element.
who are regarded as radical ultra pro-
gressives.
Senator Borah emphasized, in ex-
pressing his views on the subject, the
necessity of General Wood and Gov
ernor Lowden expressing themselves.
When asked why the question would
not be put to all the candidates, he
said there was no use questioning
Senators who had time after time voted
their views on the treaty and the
league during the long fight.
Suppose you are beaten in both con-
ventions, that candidates who will not
declare against the treaty and league
are nominated by both parties, and
that neither the Democratic nor the
Republican platform contains de-
nunciatlon Of the treaty. what will
you do?" Mr.. Borah was asked
There is room in America for more
than two political parties," replied Mr..
Borah, thus repeating the threat he
made on the floor of the Senate sew
eral months ago, when he announced
that there would be a party in the
Presidential campaign of 1920, the
platform of which was to denounce
the treaty and get out of the league,
even II he were the only member of
it.
Issue to Go to Primaries
1T doesn't make any difference
whether the treaty is ratified before
the conventions meet" Senator Borah
replied to further question. "The
league of nations never will have
any verify or strength until the peo-
pie have passed on it, 1t will come
up whether or not the party leaders
want to keep it down. The people have
habit of insisting or deciding such
questions themselves, and that habit
Will be manifested at Chicago.
We intend to bring this issue into
the primaries in every state posi-
Bile. We hope to have an orpaniza-
tlon in every state before June l and
by April l if possible, and we will
make special effort at speed in those
states which have their primaries
early. 10
1--WE want to know not onlv how
every candidate for President stands
on the treaty and league issue. but
how every candidate for delegate to
the convention stands. We want to %
into the convention with enough dele
gates committed our way on this issue
to be sure that both candidate and
platform measure up to our ideas on
this point"
The first inkling Of the program Of
tne "irreconcilables" was given just
before the adjournment Of the Senate
when Senator Medill Mccormick. Of
Illinois, served notice that the John
son Mountaineering the United
States an equal vote in the league Of
nations assembly with the British EN-
p're~-would be an issue in the cam
paign.
Dox~