The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-06-09
THE OLD MAN or THE SEA

Away back yonder, over a year
ago, when the matter Of the accept
ance of the league of nations, in its
entirety, was first brought TO the
consideration of congress, and when
Senators Lodge, oBrah Knox, ct al,
drew their swords and threw away
the scabbards in the fight they staged
against President Wilson and the
democratic party, Hiram johnson of
California was counted by the pro
ponents of the anti-lcague movement,
as being in the doubtful column.
Would johnson be found with the
conservative republicans, who were
willing to forget petty politics in
favor Of the needs of the country p
Would Johnson so over to the radi'
cal element which instituted the fight
on the league?" were two very perti-
nent questions which press dispatches
propounded to the readers of the
daily newspapers.
"
show Senator Johnson a liberal re-
publican, entertaining most lberal and
friendly views toward the covenant
of the league. Superficial indications
pointed to him as one Of the repub-
licans who believed Wilson was the
president Of all the United States,
fA,. lA L. A.
every political faith and of every reli-
gious creed, who constituted the citi-
zenry of the nation--the great Am
erican people.
Johnson was recognized by the re-
publicar senators who were, at that
time outlining their plans and initiat-
ing their campaign against the adop-
ton of the covenant, as man need
cd by their cause. He must be brought
over from the doubtful ranks and
made to see that the older masters in
republican craft knew more about the
needs of the party than did he; he
must be made TO realize that party
fealty meant more than loyalty to
the needs, the wishes. the demands Of
the American people.
The screws were applied, the pres
sure brought to bear, and Johnson
the hesitant, Johnson the liberal
johnson who stood wavering, unde-
cided how to vote on the league of
nations question, became johnson the
radical, johnson the consort Of Lodge
and Knox and the renegade demo
Gratis who sought to embarrass the
administration and nullify all that
Wilson had accomplished after months
From a senator who more thnn
halfway believed in the adoption OF
the league as President Wilson would
submit it TO the senate, Johnson be-
came a blatant opponent of the meas
ure, working against y, leaving no
stone unturned In his efforts 10 de-
feat it.
Give the devil his due, however,
Johnson was honest in his conversion.
Sinner ne'er repcnted more sincerely,
nor turned more devoutly to the light
of salvation. than did the man from
California change his views upcn
this question Of most paramount i'm.
portance. He was no longer on the
anxious seat; be no longer believed
that good might be found embodied
in the covenant OF the league; he
was against II body and soul. heart
and hand; he was ready TO 60 forth
and fight TO accomplish the leagues
defeat ne was ready to hob-nob with
the professed democrats who were
against il. And he did all these.
But in doing as the leaders had
demanded. Johnson brought himself
into the limelight of political Ameri.
ca. He did not hate himself and he
did not, therefore, seek TO hide his
lisnt under a bushel. On the con
trary he placed it where all might
see it, where all might bask in its
several thousand candle-power rays
The wielders OF the party whips
did not, at the start, take johnson
and Jehnsons presidential aspirations