Evening star., 1920-11-14
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

nREs1DENT- ELECT Hardings announce
r. ment from Marion. prior to his de-
Il parture on his outing. that he VIII at
an early date take up consideration OF
the participation Of the United States in an
association of nations to prevent con-
strued in political and official circles at the
National Capital to mean that he regards the
result of the Solemn referendum" con-
elusive against the Wilson league Of nations.
but not against league Of nations He caught
the sense of the voters to be favorable to the
main objective Of the Versailles covenant but
opposed to its most important details of prac-
tical operation.
His proposal to proceed upon this undertake
ing has gratifed that element in the republican
party which favored the Versailles covenant
with reservations: has embittered and angered
the faction known as irreconciables, who are
opposed to league Of any kind. and was
received by domestic pro-leaguers with scof
ing and doubts Of it's success.
The White House, in particular has no faith
whatever in President-elect Harding's ability
to create association Of nations which
accomplish what the existing league promises.
The White House view is that Senator Harding
suggests this country going into partnership
wherein the United States will reap all the
benefits and carry none of the responsibilities.
Men close to President Wilson say: 1T cannot
be done"
X X X X
The essential point, however. in his an
nouncement is that the Senate, at the extraor-
dinary session expected to be called March
4, will be confronted with the league of ma
tions problem again. Whether both houses
are assembled in extra session or not Is i'm
material: the Senate, at the beginning Of a
presidential term. always Is called to confirm
presidential nominations. and can also con-
jurisdiction, irrespective Of whether the new
House is in session not.
President Harding will then find himself
between two fires In his own party On one
side will be the militant irrecopcilables, Sena-
tor Johnson OF California, Senator Borah Of
Idaho and his new colleague Senator Good
ing; Senator Moses OF New Hampshire, Sena-
tor Brandegee Of Connecticut Senator Medill
Mccormick Of Illinois. and others. They will
be reinforced by democratic irreconcilables,
such as Senator Tom" Watson Of Georgia.
Senator Reed Of Missouri, and so on This
so-called battalion Of death" will insist that
the verdict at the polls was adverse to the
entrance Of the United States into any foreign
alliance. and will demand that the project of
creating an association of nations in which the
United States is to enter be dropped.
X X X
It is believed by men who think they know
the temper of the Senate and the people that
the irreconcilables will find arrayed against
them and supporting the President a powerful
majority in the Senate quite probably ap-
preaching two-thirds vote, including the
democrats. favorable to some kind of a league
of nations. In the republican party, outside
or the Senate, men of great influence who
will constantly urge President Harding to go
ahead and by no means to start his administra-
tion by completely abandoning the central idea
Of a concert Of the powers Of the earth to
prevent, If possible. future wars.
William H. Taft, Charles e. Hughes, George
w. Wickersham and distinguished array of