The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-28
wH,oA he RloAr7

The New York Tribune takes issu,
with Hiram johnson. You know Hiram
took the stump few days ago and
declared that Harding has scrapped the
league Of nations. II Is right there that
the Tribune dissents. In such a deca-
ration our sapient contemporary insists
that Senator johnson merely expresses
his own personal" views, but certainly
not those OF the republican party or It's
candidate for the presidency. And thus
the issue RACES.
We are. of course, not In position to
state with assurance upon what basis
either the Tribune or Senator Johnson
predicates such positive assertions, We
presume that each considers the source
OF the information available as sails
factory. But II will be observed that
there is a wide discrepancy between
the two contentious. Somebody ia either
mistaken or Is not dealing frankly with
the country. Is this the Tribune, Sem
ator Johnson. or may II be Senator
Harding7
Senator johnson IL somewhat SAN
guine in his manner OF statement. Some
even consider him extreme. But 1t Will
he remembered that he was very de-
hberate about announcing his support
OF Harding. There is a justifiable in
florence that he took careful pains to
find out where he was lat" before COM
hitting himself. How no did this we,
OF course. do not know. There is a
rumor in circulation that Senator Hard
ing's assurance took the form OF q
secret personal letter.
Hiram nnnv LnnW haitian what ~ In
about than he Is given credit for. At
at any rate. he declares unequiyocally
that Harding has scrapped the league.
There are others Of equal prominence
who declare that Harding has done no
such thing. Surface indications are that
somebody is being double crossed. Is
Harding deceiving the friends or enc
niles of the league OF natlons--whlch?
Or. in order to bring together discor-
dant elements. is the republicanScan-
didate trying to deceive both sides and
the people at large at the same time?
Regardless Of whether one favors or
opposes the league, we believe the
voters are entitled to know how the
stand on the issue. Mr..
Harding insists that the league IL an
issue. II this be true--and II is true
what is his attitude on the issue7 He
may feel that he has made this clear.
but he has evidently mot done DO. His
friends construo his position Z in two
ways. which are exactly opposite. Both
may be honest. but both, manIfestly.
cannot be right. -
This paper has heretofore sugge3fed
q simple method Of setting the matter
at rest. We repeat It here. Simply to
determine an issue Of fact, Senator
Harding should be asked to state cate
gorically whether. II elected. he will
submit the treaty OF Versailles again
TO the senate. Hs may or may not say.
as he prefers. whether with or without
recommendations. This latter matter IL
Of secondary Importance. II Senator
Johnson's construction 10 the proper
one. the treaty will not go back to the
senate.
II, however. wickersham. Taft and
company have the correct dope, the
treaty will be resubmitted to the ben.
ate. along with such suggestionG Of
amendments or reservations as niay be
considered expedient. But, az hereinbe-
fcro intimated, we believe the people
are entitled TO know, before election.
which course 10 70 be followed. II Ia
q mockery for q candidate to make a
certain question an issue ana then de-
cline to state his position on II UNDER
gtAndinRly,