Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-07
Republicans in Retreat.

NJ OF many opportunities are given in these
serious times for mirthful smiling.
The world is still topsy-turvy. The tread OF
armies still is heard. The clash of nations
continues to echo from continent to continent
Peace conferences are not all peaceful or
even peaceable. War yet casts its ominous
shadow over all Europe, and May Day demon
STATIONS in America resulted in riots, blood
shed and death. But occasionally there
comes rift in the lowering clouds. Occa-
sionally one may turn from the controversies
of Presidents and Premers, from the bomb
throwers and Bolshevists, and laugh aloud.
Such an occasion has just como to the ma
ton in the comedy which a group Of lead
ing Republicans have staged. They have
given the country farce performance worthy
of professional burlesque artists. And it all
came about through the unconscious blunders
OF Henry Cabot Lodge, the most serious and
solemn Of modern-day statesmen.
1t is easy to recall that when the Presi-
dent returned from Europe not many weeks
ago, the same Lodge organized q band of
round-robn signers, thirty-seven in number.
pledged them to stand until death parted
them against Wiisonian league OF nations,
and thereupon turned e1pectantly to the
country for applause and support For
time this revolt had in 1t elements that
alarmed. 1t seemed that the boilers we're
powerful enough to defeat the treaty of peace
and prolong the state OF war between America
and Germany. But the applause and support
which was looked for did not come. For
time the nation seemed to balance the mat
ter in it's mind, then like tidal wave the
demand went forth for the adoption OF a
league, any sort of league. that offered
guarantee OF peace. The brave band Of
dodgers" began to weaken. One by one the
recalcitrants found an avenue OF escape One
by one they took refuge in dugouts They
cni1n 1
Pretexts for leaping for the league running
board. Some of them ran up the white flag:
others held back waiting for the text" Of
the new document, and a very few stood pat.
Then there trooped into Washington the
valiant Lodge. He conferred with the OBJ
stlnate Borah and the plant Curtis OF
Kansas. The three of them, constituting
themselves leaders" OF the Republican ma
jority in the Senate, sent out an urgent call
for Republican conference to consider the
league of nations, accompanying it with an
equally urgent demand that their associates
refrain from expressing their views upon the
question until the appointed hour should ar
rive
Then the comedy. The gallant
sfgners OF the round robin let out vibrant
roar They, with one accord, declared that
the league OF nations was not and could not
be made, party issue. They repudiated Mr.
Lodge, pilloried Mr.. Borah ard demanded to
know by what right Mr.. Curtis sought to
silence them or commit them to any
partisan" attitude upon the league OF ma
tons. They completely forgot, or pretended
to forget, that the round robin was partisan
proposition OF the rankest sort, and that in
subscribing to it they placed themselves upon
record as the rawest Of partisans.
The storm was raised, and in the face of
1t the Lodge ah-Curtis cabal retrcated
Lodge spent much time in explaining that
he didn't mean any harm by it any way
Borah got from under completely, and poor
old Curtis was left to make the apologies.
II this is not deemed the most ludcrous piece
OF oy-piay the country has witnessed in
decade, then ones sense OF humor is out of
order