Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-10
Hopes of Treaty
Compromise Fade
Continued From rage One

efforts have gained all in one moment.
But they are slowing down perCeptibly.
Predictions made by those who rep.
resented tho Republicans in these
maneuvers that the Republicans would
now yield more are not being realized.
The Republicans feel that they are fac
ing national campaign and cannot
afford TO impair their stand upon Il
principle. Predictions made by senators
like MIR. Simmons that the President ;
letter would not make any difference
with the Democratic senators are not
being realized. Democrats have heard
the call Of their party and a still small
voice is reminding them of the great
virtue of being regular.
The President has chosen his Issue
and the Republicans have all the best
Of il. There are two extremes to the
league issue. One is that of Borah and
johnson. that this country should not
enter the league at all. The other is
that Of Wilson. that it should enter with
all it's force and all it's resources. as
suming leadership in the reorganization
of the world. The Borah johnson posi-
ton is the historic American position.
The Wilson position is its complete
reversal. The Republican position is
the midway position. ''let us take no
unnecessary tndnCtS. lEtJ no tOullull
ourselves as little as possible"
In politics it is the midway position
that always wins. Some ono defined
politics aS the art of the second best
The Lodge position is the second best
position both Of those who believe in
the League Of Nations and of those who
disbelieve in it. II you stand with
johnson and are irreconcilabIc you vote
with Lodge rather than see Wilson win.
If the issue shapes itself the other way
then If you stand with Wilson you vote
with Lodge rather than see johnson
win.
, Successful politics is recognition
that prudeucc is tho commoncst hu.
man quality. The martyrs to a cause
are the people you read about in the
history books centuries afterwards. but
the fellows who got the offices at the
outset while the martyrs were collect
ing the tOmbstOncS are these who ar-
cepted the great cause with reservations.
President Leads Crusade
Mr.. Wilson is still, as he was when
he went to Europe leading a crusade.
In a crusade there is no such thing rs
n midway position. There is no half
loaf. His party must go with him. At
least It must start with him for tho
Holy Lands. though it may be for new
leadership and a new inspiration. after
San Francisco. which will will lead it
in a more practicable and promising
direction.
There can be no mistaking it's re-
luctance in setting on the high emprise
with Mr.. Wilson. The situation in the
Senate is typical. The midway position
of Mr.. Lodge has forced the irreconcl-
ables to vo'o with him when their votes
were needed. And it has forced more
than half the Democrats to vote with
him when their votes were needed.
Still the Democrats at San Fran
cisco caLnot avoid the issue as Mr.. Will .
sou has drawn il. The platform will
have to declare for the League Of Ma
tions with no reservations that do more !
than interpret its plain meaning But
when they have written their platform
the Democrats will pray to be delivered
from their issue.