Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-08-09

That the senatorial oiigarcny had been
given lts own way in the selection of
the presidential candidate. BUT il was
surprising that it vas able to fasten
INTO the party platform the creed of
hate and bitterness and the vaciIlat
ing policy that Possesses il.
In the midst of war the present
senatorial cabaI. led by Senator's
Lodge. Penrose and Smoot. was
formed. Superficial evidence of
LOYALTY TO the president was DELHI
crate in order that the great rank
and file Of their party, faithful and
patriotic TO the very core might
not be offended. But underneath
this misleading exterior. conspirators
planned and plotted. with bigoted
zeal. With victory 70 our arms they
delayed and DISTRACTED the works Of
peace If deemed useful TO sae work
IN hand no artiffce for interfering
with our constitutional peace making
authority was rejected. Before the
country knew, yea. before these men
themselves knew the details Of the
composite plan. formed at the peace
table, they declared their opposition
mitred 20 the senate in the manner
the Constitution provides. they vio-
lated every custom and ever~ con-
sideration of decency by presenting
4 copy Of the document. procured un-
blushingiv from enemy hands. and
passed il into the printed record Of
senatorial proceedings. From that
hour dated the enterprise Of throw
ing the whole subject into a techui-
cal discussion. n order that the pub
lie might ne confused. The plan has
never changed in its objective. but
the method has. AT the outset there
vas the careful insistcnce that there
vas no desire 20 interfere with the
principle evolved ana forYnalizsd at
Versailles. Later. il was the form
and not the substance that pro-
fessedly inspired attack. But pre-
tense was futile when proposals later
came forth that clearly emascuiated
the basic principle OF the whole peace
plan. II IS not necessary 10 recall
the details of the controversy IN the
senate. Senator Lodge finally crystal
iized his IDEAS into what we're known
as the Lodge reservations. and when
congress adjourned, these reserva-
tons held the support Of the So
called regular Republican leaders.
From that time the processes have
been interesting. Political expedi-
encv n It's rruest sense dwarfed every
consideration either Of the public in
rerest or OF the maintenance of the
honor Of A great political party. The
exclusive question was how 20 avoid
a rupture in the Republican organi-
zation The country received with
interest. 70 say the east. the an
i uouncenent from Chicago. where the
national convention was assembled.
that a platform plank. dealing with
I the subject n world peace. had been
I drawn. leaving out the Lodge reser-
vations. and vet remaining agreeable
I To all interests. meaning thereby, the
! Lodge reservationists. the mild
reservat;onists and the group Of Re-
oiblican senators that openly on
posed the League of Nations IN any
form
I AS the platform made no DEFINITE
,nrnnitaI of policy and was. in fact,
so ar,fully phrased as 70 make al"
1 k~'0@D%N-
! rs ssei through the convention with
practical unaninity. Senator Jonn-
/ son. however whose position mas
been consistent ana whose opposi-
ion 20 the league IN any shape Is
we'll known. withheld his support NJ
the conventions choice until the
{ candidate had stated the meaning
Of the platform. and announced
definitely The policy that would be
his. if elected.
( The Republican candidate has
spoken ana his utrerance calls forth
the following approval from Senate
Johnson:
( YESTERDAY IN his speech 81 ac-
ceprance Senator Harding uneduivo-
caliv took his stand upon the para
mount issue in this campaisn-tnc
League IF Nations. The Republican
marry stands committed by its plat
form. It's standard bearer has now
accumulated that platform There
can be no Misunderstanding his
words
Senator Harding, as the candidate
If the party, and Senator Johnson
are as one on this question. and, as
! the latter expresses Il. the Repnbii-
can party is committed both by plat
form in the abstract and by its
candidate in specification. The
threatened revolt among leaders OF
the par+v IS averted. but the
minority position as expressed N the
senate prevails as that Of the parry
In short. principle. as avowed III
support Of the Lodge reservations. or
of the SPECIALIZED mild reservations.
has been surrendered TO expediency
Senator Harding makes this new
pledge Of policy in behalf Of ms
parry:
y promise you formal and effect
i've peace so quickly as a Repap-
licau congress can pass its dec!ara-
ton for Republican executive 70
sign"
This means but one thing-a sspa-
rate peace with Germany.
This would be the most disnear
antng event in civilization since the
Russians made their separate peace
with Germany. and infinitely more
, unworthy On our part than II was on
that Of the Russians They were
threatened with starvation and revo-
luton had swept their country. Our
soldiers fought side by side with the
Allies. So complete was the coalition
NJ strength and purpose that General