The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-06-10
REPUBLICANS HOLD
CONVENTION
WRANGLE OVER LEAGUE OF
NATIONS MAY CAUSE SPLIT
IN PARTY

In fAhl1
Chicago, June 9.-Republican diff
ferences over the league of nations
eliminated today in an open threat
from irreconcilable Senators to leave
the party unless it declared flatly
against the league.
The ultimatum was delivered in dra-
matte fashion at a conference Of lead
ers. 1t put the league issue suddenly
to the fore of all other questions be-
fore the national convention, not ex-
cepting even the nomiation of a Presi-
Dental candidate.
Tonight the leaders were only half
heartedly attempting to conceal their
apprehension over the situation. Most
Of them gromly predicted an agree
ment, but none appeared to concede
any of his ground. In session, which
promised to last through the night,
resolution committee appointed by Sem
ator Watson sought to find middle
course which would hold the party
together. {
Senator Crane, coming Unexpectedly
into the swim of convention affairs
after several days Of quiet conferences
prefaced the irreconcilable ultimatum
by laying on the council table a pro
posal that the party declared affirma-
lively for ratification Of league of
nations covenant with safe guarding
reservations. Backed, he said, by the
group of mild reservation Senator'S, he
indicated that unless such plank
were adopted all the dynamite OF the
league question would be let loose on
the convention floor.
The reply Of the irreconcilableS
came at once, phrased in terms which
no one misunderstood. With consid-
erable heat, Senator Borah told the
conference that he and his colleagues
never could support any plank declar-
ing affirmatively for any ratification
of the treaty, reservations or no reser-
vations. Should the party adopt such
a plank, they declared, they would
Immediately and finally part company
with it. :.
Neither Side Recedes
In a desperate effort to bring har-
mony, Senator Watson pleaded that
the rising animisities of the conferees
be forgotten and that both sides ap-
proach the subject with determina-
ton to avoid repetition Of the dis
astrous break of 1912. But neither
side receded and the meeting ended.
So it stood tonight that the resolu-, ,
tions committee of thirteen sought to
work out a solution. There was a
series of feverish conferences as each
side sought to assess how much OF
the attitude of its adversary was bluff
and how much was genuine.
The irreconcilable group solemnly
assured their party leaders there was
not single element of bluff in thier
program and one of them is under
stood to have declared that should the
party stand for any sort of ratifica7-
ton he would resign from the Senate
to be free to carry on the fight.
What connection Senator Johnson
might have with the move was not
revealed. Throughout the Senate
fight he stood shoulder to shoulder
with Senator Borah, but talk Of a
possible Johnson bolt has been dis
counted by the men who are closest
here to the California Senator.
While the delegates We're assem-
bling in the Coliseum today to make
Senator Lodge and the remainder of
the temporary organization the per-
manent one, and to hear nothing more
exciting than prayer and speech
by Chauncey NJ. Depew, the league OF
nations fight was being carried on in
the quiet of committee room down.
town. where dozen men, represent
ing the reservationists and the irrec-
oncilables, were gathered about a
table
The irreconcilables swear they will .
fight to the last ditch to prevent the
Republican party from going before
the country with any sort Of an en-
dosement of the league idea, and thus =
become "the tail to President Wilson's
kite" as Senator johnson himself puts
it. The element opposed to them ar
CUES it will be a sorry thing for the.