The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-07-08
PLEA BY JOHNSON
FOR HARDING VOTES
Says Nominee Stands -Four
Square on Platform.

SAN -FRANcIsco, July 7.-Sehator
Hiram johnson to-day issued state
ment declaring himself supporter OF
the Republican party and Its nominees
The statement said:,
For more than a year the contest
over the Presidents League OF Nations
ras been waged in Congress It has peen
|. = all cngrossing ana paramount ISSUE
l., nece sslty this issue came to the con-
ventons of the great political parties
Both Republicans and Democrats In their
platforms have INDUCED in the usual
political verbosity but nevertheless
these platforms. in direct opposition 10
each other, sharply define and clearly
present the question for decision in the
November election.
"The Republican party declared that
the Presidents covenant failed sig
naily to accomplish its purpose and
contained stipulations not only ihtol-
erable for an independent people out
certain to produce the injustice nos
tility and controversy among hauohs
which 1t proposed TO prevent ana re-
pudiated to a degree wholly unheces,
sary and unjustitiable the time honoreu
policies in favor Of peace declared py
Washington. Jefferson and Monroe
Covenant a Breeder of War;
"The Republican party stands. there
fore firmly against the Presidents cove
nant as presented denounces II as breed
ing war rather than promoting peace,
and reafflrms the time honored. nation
old policies OF Washington, Jefferson
and Monroe.
"The Democratic party. on the other
hand. rejected every effort to modify or
qualify the Presidents proposed League
of Nations, indorsed the Presidents at
titude and took its position In favor
of the league as presented. 1t Is true that
the Democrats, in an effort to placate,
say something about reservations which
might make clearer or more specific the
obligations Of the United States, but
the language Is meaningless and does not
at all alter the essential position OF the
Democratic party for the league as pre-
sented.
THE two parties acted in similar
fashion in one respect but from differ
ent motives and for different reasons.
Both rejected the pleas for the adoption
Of the league with reservations. The
Democrats because they were for the
league as presented. and the Republi-
cans because no reservations devised by
the human mind could anticipate the
contingencies which might arise In the
future from an instrument OF such po-
tential possibilities for harm.
Up to the People to Decide.
Thus the issue finally comes from
the forum Of Congress to the final arbi-
trament OF the American people. The
overshadowing question In the campaign,
therefore, is whether we enter the mael-
strom of European and Asiatic politics
and diplomacy and become a part of the
cynical imperialism OF the Old World, or
whether America shall live her life in
her own way, independent, unfettered,
mindful always OF her obligations to
humanity and civilization, but free to
act as each crisis shall arise. and main
tanning always the policy OF Washington
and Jefferson and Monroe, of friendship
with all nations. entangling alliances
with none.
with candidate standing four square
upon the platform, the issue leaves
those who believe in safeguarding, pro-
tecting and preserving our Americanism
but one choice, and. that Is to support
the Republican party"