The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-05
TAFT LOOMS
ASCANDIDATE
IN 1920 RACE
Power SignaIized BY LaShing
BY Bourne for League of
Nations Stand.
BY BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE.
Vituperative flashing of William r.
~ Taft former President, citizen OF
Washington and the nation, began
today with real earnestness that in
dicates that Mr.. Taft is daily grow
ing too strong as a prospective figure
In the great Presidential race OF 1899. |
Nearly everything sarcastic it is
possible to say about a man is in
cluded in statement concerning Mr..
{ TAFT issued by Jonathan Bourne, Jr.,
president Of the Republican Publicity
Association. Headed Has Mr.. Taft
Lost His Stabilizer?" the first para
graph of the statement declares that
the mental operations of our ex-
President are pitiable."
The statement, which will stir po-
ntieal trouble. is a hot attack on Mr.. |
Taft for his attitude on the League of
Nations. Mr.. Bourne and his associ1-
ton which was once about all in the |
way Of organization that was left ir
the Republican party, is unreservedly |
for making the League of Nations an
issue-hghting to the last ditch
against President Wilson and his fol-
lowers to prevent approval or ratif-
cation OF that document, or any part
of It.
National Committee Opposed.
Will H. Hayes, chairman Of the
Republican National Committee, ap-
parently speaking for the majority
of the party, is opposed to the league
being made q partisan issue. Most
of the committee are against the
league, but consider it unwise to in
ject partissnship into the question. |
They cannot yet see where or when |
the league cat will jump. If it jumps |
into trouble early in the international |
game the Republicans indirectly get
the beneft. II 1t jumps toward sc-
complishing real good in the worlds |
peace the Republicans will be "out |
from under"
Mr.. Bourne, once United States |
Senator from Oregon, and rather |
closely identified with the progress ]
GiVe Republicans, has no faith in the |
cat jumping right, and favors a d.
rect issue from this minute on. So |
he hops on Mr.. TAFT, the leading Re- |
publican Of the nation, for support |
ing the league Here are brief ex-
eerpts from the statement:
An In Past Tense.
aaFime WAS when Mr.. Taft was
hailed as one Of the greatest jurists
of the nation"
'He WAS credited with q mind
capable Of reaching unerringly the
truth
aBut Mr.. Taft's mental gyrations,
since the covenant Of the League of
Nations became the leading issue be-
fore the country, have caused his
countrymen to stand sghast"
Mr.. Taft appears to have thrown
facts and logic to the winds"
cit would be an insult to American
.inteIIigence to dignity Mr.. Taft's ut
terances as argument"
~On March he directly reversed
himself"
'But let us draw the veil One of
the saddest outcomes of the war has
been the reduction of our only ex-
President to such a level"
To Force Issue On Party.
The Publicity Association is bent on
forcing the league as an issue, crys-
talking sentiment for it's defeat by
the Senate, or, failing that, the nomi-
nation By the Republicans Of a man
for President who will continue to
make the question an issue right up
to the elections in November, 1920.
Mr.. Taft, IL nominated by the Re
pubIicans, would not make the league
a direct issue. Phases Of IT he might
and probably would oppose.
In the opinion of politicians in
Washington today the attack may
greatly strengthen Mr.. Taft through
the country.
He Ii Not a Candidate.
Mr.. Taft, II Is known to his intimate
friends, has never intended to be a
candidate for President next year. He
would not enter a factionaI struggle
under any circumstances. He utterly
disIikes the cheap politics that usual
ly inject themselves into a Presiden-
thai contest, and hates the small
things supposedly big men do when
enGaged in political struggles.
D The fact, though, that in spite of
himself Mr.. Taft is looming large at
this time, makes understandable, his
f=iends say. some of the things said
about him.
Embarrassing to he former Presi-
dent. too, is the fact that some of his
most ardent friends assert that he
Chall not be the master of his own
Intentions as to another nomination
an the White House; that conditions
are almost certain TO arise by which
the Republican convention will, rep
resenting sentiment in all parts of
the country, force the nomination on
him
Mr.. Taft cannot prevent his friends
laying schemes in his behalf, but he
will not be q candidate, and will re-
fuse TO allow himself to be brought
into q struggle. That is absolutely
known TO his closest friends.
sr-g FrOH CONTRACT BREACH