The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
BTTTER-ENDERS'
LOOK ASKANCE ON
HARDING LEAGUE
Irreconcilables Promise
Fight to Eclipse War :.
On Wilson.
By ROBERT BARRY.

Something akin to apprehension
thrust itself yesterday into the OBJ
servance by the bitter-ender foes of
the league of nations Of the day OF
peace on earth. good viii to men,"
Disturbing echoes from Marion con-
- ferences are being heard in the Sem
ate cioakrooms. Anything repeated
often enough may penetrate even
the splendid isolation" of the ir-
reconcilables, so that the story that
President-elect Harding is inclining
toward an international program,
embodying some features of the
covenant written at Paris and
signed at Versailles, has become an
noying.
Senator Miles W. Poindexter. bit
ter-ended from Washington. was the
first to bring back to Washington
positive statements of displeasure
with some things Mr.. Harding ap-
pears TO have in mind. His fears
went far toward confirming some
doubts the irreconcilables indulged
after such pro-leaguers as Elihu
Root, Herbert Hoover and Charles
Evan Hughes came away smiling
from the Marion white house"
The most recent interview given by
William Howard Taft added fuel to
the fires
Bsrah Warned of Trend.
Senator William z. Borah. OF
Idaho. most aggressive champion Of
the nn-1aa has hAan ah-
vised of the reported trend Of
events The story had been re-
Iayed to him before il gained Gre
dence in Washington. His misgiv-
ings were increased when stories,
bearing the taint of competent in
spiration. appeared under a Marion
date line last week.
Senator Harry S. New. of Indiana,
intimate friend and close adviser
of the President-elect, Is not dis
turbed by the reports. His attitude
is significant. since he was at Ma
rion recently. He voted, as did Mr..
Harding. for ratification with the
Lodge reservations, but his pecu-
liarly Informative position in the
Presidential campaign persuade him
that one positive result of the elec-
tion was the death of the league
Of nations. Senator New is opposed
to American entrance into the exist
ing league.
Anti-Ieaguers' Fears AIlayed.
Senator News statements in op-
position to the league by so inti-
mate an adviser Of Senator Hard
ing. when viewed in connection
with the speech by Senator Joseph
s Frelinghuysen. of New Jersey
accomplishes much toward allaying
the fears of the irreconcilables
Senator Frelinghuysen not only op-
poses American membership in the
existing league but expresses seri-
Gus doubts as to American partici-
patton in any association of ma
tions.
In spite of their efforts to dismiss
the disquieting reports as newspaper
speculation, the irreconcilables new
erthelesS are arming for another
battle in the Senate. They argue
that their position Is immeasurably
stronger than when they Launched
their attacks against the covenant
brought back from Europe by Presi-
dent Wilson. They claim substantial
gains in the present Senate, and fur
ther recruits in the new Senate
They have been led to believe thai
several Democratic Senators, fire.,
from the yoke of the Wilson dicta'
tion, will vote their true sentiments
and be found among the league op'
ponents. 1t is the confident expecta'
tion that the Senate fight agains
any Harding program based on rati
fication of the Versailles covenant
reserved, amended. or modified
would be so violent as to make tn,
fight against the Wilson program
appear as peaceful as a Sunday
school picnic.
(cepyriEht, 1870, Public Ledger Col