The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-07-19

HARDING UPENS AlIACk
ON COVE RNOR COX'S
"SPL EN- D D A { co RD "
WITH PRESIDENT WILSON
Marion, July 19.-Pressing his fight
against the splendid accord established
yesterday between President Wilson
ana Governor Cox, Senator Harding
declared in a statement today that
triumph of the democratic ticket this
year would mean "a continuation or
the foreign policy which has so griey-
ously disappointed both Europe and
America Apparently, foreseeing the
league as paramount campaign issue
as a result Of the White House con-
ference, the republican candidate
adopted an aggressive program OF
striking at the Wilson policy wher-
ever it showed its head. He took for
the text of today's attack a statement
on the league attributed to Colonel
House and just published in this
country.
I'VE are beginning to understand"
cafl l.,
plighted relationship Of the United
States to Europe, just in time to pro-
ceed to a referendum intelligently.
This one representative Of this coun-
try, other than the president, who
best knew Of the whole situation at
now, in cabled statement from Lon
don, that the suggestion Of a prelim-
mary peace treaty was made very
soon after the armistice and that
such a treaty could have been made
before Christmas of 1918.
"All along this has been the repub-
lican conception of what ought to have
been done, but this is the first OF.
fioial knowledge that Europe wished
such a procedure and was deferred
by its inexpediting peace. The au-
thentic revelation is peculiarly inter-
esting at the moment when it is an
nounced that the continuation of
democratic administration means a con-
tinuation Of the foreign policy which
has so grievously disappointed both
Europe and America
Colonel Houses statement, to which
Senator Harding referred, was con.
tanned in special cable to the Phlla-
delphia Public Ledger from London.
In it the colonel was quoted as say
ing that a preliminary treaty con.
cerning army, navy preparations and
delineation of boundaries could have
been made by Christmas. 1918, and
would have been not only the usual
but the obvious thing to do"
Assurance that the league OF nations
will lead all other issues, in the
campaign, is seen by the advisers of
Senator Harding in over.Sunday de-
velopments around the campaign head.
quarters of both parties
The announcement in Washington
that Governor Cox stands in perfec,
accord with President Wilson is taken
here to mean a straight-out plea by
the democratic party for vindication
and perpetuation of the Wilson for
eign policy a policy against which
Senator Harding and all of his lleu-
tenants here are ready to make the
fight of their political lives.
Even before yesterdays White House
conference was concluded. Senator
Harding had cOnjectured this signifi-
cance and outcome and had taken
the aggressive in 4 public statement
demanding that the mysterious for.
eign commitments" embraced in the
presidents program be outlined in de-
tail so the American people might
know what they We're asked to sup
port. AT the same time. he gave
assurances that the Republican party
never would accept that program.
The senator's statement called di-
rectly on Governor Cox To put him
self on record in regard to the article
ten, the Armenian mandate, and other
subjects upon which Mr. Wilson has
found himself in conflict with the Re
publican senate and with some influ-
entail Democrats.
The feeling in the Harding camp
today was that the next move was
up to the Democratic nominee.
The alacrity with which the league |
issue has come to the fore causel |
manifest surprise at Harding's head |
quarters here. Many OF the senators
associates had not expected Governor /
Cox to take counsel with the president /
at the outset Cf his campaign nor |
to take any aggressive measures 10 |
hold up the hands Of the present adj |
with which he has not |
been closely associated. In that event, |
league issue might he thrust more |
or less to the background for want |
Of direct point of conflict, between !
the two parties.
SO far, however, ordinary important |
issues have failed 10 supply n para. |
mount point Of conflict and that cir /
are expected to help keep |
the league of nations controversy in |
the spotlight. The Harding managers |
are not unmindful that within their |
owr party there is some division Of |
opinion regarding the league, but they |
believe that on a direct issue Of ac. |
ceptancc of the Wilson policy. with
out the dotting of an Il or the cross
ing of a t. "thoy can count on a
united front"
They are confident that such an |
issue will drive n wedge through |
solidarity and thcv do not |