The Washington herald., 1920-10-09
The Menace of Borah's Position.

CENATOR BORAH j, perfectly frank in eX-
y planning to the public the somewhat anomalous
political position in which he has put himself In
letter to the Republican Presidential candidate
he says that he will do all that he possibly can to
elect Harding and to defeat the league.
In his bitter and irreconcilable opposition to
the league the Idaho Senator is more in accord
with such Democratic Senators as Reed Gore,
than he is with the majority OF the members OF
his own party in the Senate. But he is entitled
10 his own opinion and to fight for it. 1t is un-
likely that he represents any considerable body OF
sentiment in the country, for such opposition as
there is TO the league OF nations extends only to
the precise form which the President has sought
automatically to force upon the country, and not
at all to an international association or agreement
for the maintenance OF peace. An overwhelming
majority OF the Republican Senators voted for the
Versailles covenant with reasonable reservations.
and their attitude iorcshadowed that OF the general
electorate today.
The Borah support OF Senator Harding is likely
10 be little more valuable than the Borah opposi-
ton would have been hurtfu. He stands for an
extreme TO which no considerable body OF cti-
ems desire to 90. But his attitude is OF more I'M
portsncc a. ioreshadowng opposition which
Mr Harding will have to encounter after his cleo
ton than in any bearing may have upon the out
come OF the Presidential campaign.
Senator Harding is pledged in the assured event
nj hIs election to Immediately formulate and pre-
sent TO the Senate plan by which this nation can
assume its place in international movement tor
tho maintenance OF peace and the Fastening OF re-
construction As result Of that pledge he is en-
loving the support OF friends OF such interna-
tional association in numbers sufficient to assure
hi> election The final desperate drive of the
Democrats upon the league issue will be OF no
avail. because intelligent people recognize the TACT
that the country is certain TO get such 4
league as desires through the action OF President
Harding and Republican Senate than by the elcc
ton OF Cox. with d Senate certain to be out OF
harmony with his purposes
The immediate task before Senator Harding is
the winning OF this election. But that is un-
dertaking that need occupy all his thought. 1t is
ior him give thought to what must follow
election He may welcome support OF every kind,
but not support given the cost OF sacrifice OF
those ideals to which he is pledged and because OF
which he enjoys his great popularity with the
American voters.
He need not repcl support which comes from
those who are avowedly hostile to the participation
oi the United States in international agreements for
the avoidance OF such horror that which the
world has just passed through But he must at
once begin TO plan such course OF conduct as
shall leave men holding views such these without
power for evil in the administration which he Is
about to give to the affairs OF this nation
Senator Harding stands at the very threshold OF
victory. 1t does not possible that he can be
turned aside from that triumph which the nation
is ready to accord him \ people weary OF au-
tocracy and radicalism are turning to him in the
conviction that he is neither autocrat radi-
cal They have turned from the Wilson insstencc
upon form OF league OF nations to which the
l nited States contributes everything and from
which it receives little, and they are convinced by
Senator Hardings voice, and his votes in the SEN
ate that he will urge successfully league quite
as efficient for the maintenance OF peace but in
joining which the United States will not be called
upon to abandon any OF the limc-tested safeguards
OF its Constitution
We are confident OF Senator Hardng's purpose
and ability fulfill this popular expectation. And
we arc confident that he need be as little cnrap-
turcd by the form OF Senator Borah's support as
he would have been apprchcnsive OF the fruits OF
his opposition.