Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-18
HARDING AND COOLIDGE
AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR
Mr. Taft Sees in the Senator Answer WHsoniar
1utocracy, With Both Candidates Standing for
AnericanSm u.s. Radicalisn

knows the rights. duties. powers and
responsibility of the office. His taking
personality. the evident absence Of him
self in his thoughts and conclusions and
his considerate attitude toward all will
enable him to frame and carry through
needed measures by softening asperities
and creating "A desire in would-be op-
ponents to comply with his wish. He is
man of the highest character. He
has no vulnerable past. He will seek
the strongest men for his councillors.
with no fear that they will also cast n
shadow.
And now what of the campaign ?
Where does Mr.. Harding stand on the
issues likely to be prominent and con
trollingP On January ]. 1920.
the writer in discussing Mr.. Harding
in these columns as candidate said
this of his attitude toward the league:
Senator Harding has been n mem
her of the foreign relations committee
Of the Senate and has generally voted
with the majority of that committee,
though he did oppose them at one time
in their action calculated to postpone
indefinitely consideration Of the treaty.
He is not bitter -ender and voted for
the league with the fourteen reserva :
tons. One may feel reasonably as
sured that, with the other Republican
candidates. except those from the Pa =
ciic slope, he would be glad to have
the treaty and league ratified with com
promise reservations, and will finally
vote to that end"
This is true today. The discussion
as to the league in the campaign in
the end is likely to settle down to a
question Of the reservations. Mr..
Wilson's party, it seems probable, will
adopt plank in favor of the league
without any reservations which will
impair its usefulness. There will be, at
first. violent attacks upon any league
at all by some Republican speakers. but
in the end the issue will be this, Was
Mr.. Wilson right in killing the league
with the Lodge reservations? That
is the coucretc issue which will emerge.
The bitter -enders are NOT going to be
able to give the fight n different turn.
The greatest prOtagonist of bitter
endism" Is Senator Johnson. TO say
that he is pleased with the results of
the Chicago convention Is not to adhere
to historic truth. He beat Wood and
Lowden and he avoided express repu-
diation in terms of his course against
the league, but that is all. He got
neither n candidate nor platform to
his liking.
He is not likely to make himself a
very conspicuous figure in the cam
paign in support Of the Republican
ticket, because the great issue will prob
ably not be the League Of Nations, but
one in which his sympathies are not so
wamly enlisted-that against radicalism.
A candidate looms at San Francisco
who increased the wages Of railroad
men all over the country. He took the
side of the mine laborerS in the great
coal strike. He will naturally have
behind him the immense organization Of
administration Officeholders who will
gather in that convention.
The Democratic party will seek to
make capital of the labor unrest and to
bring to it's support all radical groups.
The Hearst papers scent the coming of
this, and they will support the indicated
candidate. The issue of the league will
be minimized and the fight will newt
ably become one between progressive
conservatism and radicalism
On such an issue Mr.. Harding and
Mr.. Coolidge have already indicated
their stand. 1t will be for Amcricanism
as against Socialism. 1t will be for
the rule of the majority as against
Soviet and organized labor direction of
what concerns the public and in which
It has a right to be heard. II will he
for the just interests Of all the peonle
as against the selfish and inconsiderate
demands of n small but powerful or
ganized minority.
Those who now doubt as to their sun.
port Of Harding will be glad that thcy
have n chance to support such can
didate. The night must come. 1t is well
that it should come now.
AmcriCanism against Sovictism md
unpatrotic " Red radicalism will be tho