The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-08
HARDING ABOUT
TO LEAVE HIRAM.
Will Not Modify View on
League Nations at Final Mo-
ment-QuoteS WiCkerSham.
REVISION OF LEAGUE
10y DAVID LAWRENcE.)

Chicago, Sept. S.--(Copyrlght 70
The Chattanooga News 1.-Two gen
tlemen between whom, politIcally
speaking, there is no love lost arr
having most uncomfortable time II
this campaign, and friends of botf
are wondering which have proved ac.
curate In Analysing the mind of Sen
ator Harding, or President Elect
| Harding, as the case may be after
next November.
Hiram johnson Is the one and Her
| bert Hoover is the other. Mr.. John
| son Is opposed to the league of ma
lions and Is convinced by read OF
the Harding speeches that the Ohio
senator, If elected. will reject the
whole league business. whilst Mr..
Hoover Is satisfied that Mr.. Harding
will approximate the position which
republicans like Taft Hughes and
Wickersham have expressed as their
understanding OF Senator Harding's
innermost thoughts.
Somebody Guessing Wrong"
Somebody, to borrow phrase from
william Jennings Bryan, is going to
find his heart I'm the grave" when
Mr.. Harding chooses between the
WisbSH VI tut SO-Cdlltu lTIBcOnC1lUDIcS
and the mild reservationists or friends
OF the treaty and league. Some peo-
pie predict that Mr.. Harding will
make the choice before election day,
others say he will wait until after the
polls are closed.
Meanwhile the friends OF Johnson
were elated by Senator Hardlng's
speech Of Aug. 2S, and now they are
correspondingly dismayed by the
statement issued at Marion by George
w. Wickersham, former attorney
general in President Taft's cabinet.
That statement was read and APP
proved by Senator Harding before be-
ing issued through the stenographic
corps of Harding headquarters. or II
In the first important statement is
sued from the front porch that has
not gone through that process.
But the tendency at Marion has
been to win the ftlends of the treaty
and league, and the writer pointed
out at the time Charles Evans Hughes
went to see Senator Harding that the
republican nominee was leaning to-
ward the Taft Hughes Wickersham-
Hoover wing of the party and more |
and more away from Johnson, whose |
cause he had espoused in earlier |
speeches.
No Absolute Rejection.
Moreover. Mr.. Wickersham confirms
clearly Wow of Senator Harding's
position on the treaty which this cor
found on his own VISIT to
Marion In July, namely, as Mr.. Wick
ersham expressed II, that Mr. Harding
would not wholly and finally reject The
league" but would take the lead in
Inf al
practical operation.
There Ia one portion OF Mr.. Wicker
shams statement which, however, II
The republican nominee read. he would
1ot have approved, but the significance
II II Is an utterance on the very TIRES
hold of the Ohio senator's home, and
It's resemblance to statements made by
Gov. Cox, the democratic nominee, is
simply that after the election Is over,
The position taken by either OF the can
didntes who IL successful will tend to-
ward the Same goal for the simple rea-
son that each would he confronted by
tho same set OF facts and circum-
stances. ....
What Wlokersham Said.
II earnestly favor the league OF ma
lions" says Mr.. Wickersham, without
indefinitely 10 "a" league of
nations, II recognize the lmperfections
1f the Paris covenant. Yet | shoulG
have been satisfied TO SEQ 1t ratified as
was ample TO enable Il to
DO nodded as national interests might
make necessary Senator Harding does
not wholly and finally reject the league.
He recognizes that II may have become
70 entwined and interviewer In the
,eace OF Europe that It's good work and
ts Objectionable provisions must be pre-
served In order 10 stabilize tho peace
" the continent"
Cox Has Same View.
Mr. Wickcrsham represents Senator
Harding ms unu1cstlonably inclined to
adopt THE" league of nations when he
q elected, even though Il may have to
W modified to remove all just doubts
IA 10 Its undue effect upon American
lights and interests" which in n nut
he'll In the TAFT position, and now the
'oaition. too, OF Gov Cox
Somebody win have analysed Mr..
IardlnR's views correctly by the time
lection time has come. and this cor
espondent predicts that Senator John
on will ind his Interpretation OF tho
reaty and league different from that
cid by Senator Harding.