The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-15
HARDING'S STRADDLE COSTLY
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

By HUGH W. ROBERTS
 Washington, October H.-(Speciai.)-In explanation of the fact that the position Of Senator Harding respecting the League of Nations, is eminently satisfactory to Senators Borah and Johnson, on the one hand, and ex-President Taft on the other, democratic leadersjn Washington imply that Senator Harding has given tacit as- surance to all diverging factions or the republican party.
 The prediction is very general, although it is not publicly or authoritatively made, that before the end of the campaign, an unprecedented ''blow-off'' will occur, in the acceptable explanation of which the republican candidate will encounter se- rious difficulty and excessive embarrass- ment. :.
 Senator Johnson, bitter against the league, any league, all leagues, and so bitter that he would not hesitate to re- frain from supporting Harding were he not assured that Harding was acceptable in his sight, intimated in a speech some time ago, that it could be demonstrated from records printed and others not print ed but available, that the republican can didate was against the league, and all upon, has not published the record which has not been printed but which Is avail able" The idea is that he had had as surances from the candidate direct.
 Ex-President Taft, despite Harding's ar raignment of the League of Nations, con- tends that if Harding is elected. the league-not league-will be ratified. Gov ernor Cox, democratic candidate, has asked MT. Taft to quote his authority for that statement
 It is believed that MT. Taft has had |satisfactory assurance from Candidate Harding.
 It is the opinion of leading democrats in the east that these inconsistencies cam not remain always in sharp conflict with out truth asserting itself in an effort to adjust them
 The situation to date finds both Harcfng land Taft enmeshed in a tangled web Harding's statements at Des Moines were strong enough to warrant democrats in asserting that he had abandoned the league idea. Such assertion was fol- many prominent republicans. It was not surprising, therefore, that under date of October 10, Senator Harding stated for mally that whereas he was opposed to the league, he was not opposed to a league, or an association of nations. His position, therefore, is: l. One of the opposition to the league for which on two occasion he voted in the Senate.
 g. One of support of the league under another name. such as association. 3. One in which he admits the bai.i- more speech October D that he mas ny constructive idea regarding the formation lof an association of nations, Wnlcn ne agrees to undertake in the event or ms election.
 4. One in which he would wash ms hands of the entire proposition py Inan ing separate peace wtn .ians .,s.. though such action would neces9t .A.e Abandonment of the allies with whom the United States fought Germany, denlai of inc treaty of peace under the terms O. which Germany surrendered, ana re turn to Germany of thes $700,0eoVW oo- tained hv inc custodian's sale Of German owned property in the united states' anu would force the United states, cap m hand. to beg Germany 10 agree that tne war be concluded and new terms ar ranged.
 Tn inc event it is demonstrated that Ha r5tng has given private assurances to hotb Rorahs and Johnsons, and the Tafts ana wickershaIns his involvement will be all the more complete
 MT. Taft fares little better than MT Harding. Some salient facts follow: i He supports the League of Nations and Senator Harding, swho declares him. self against the League of Nations 2. He declares that the League of Ma ticns will be ratified if Harding is elected. although Harding declares himself against the League of Nations.
 3. He supports the anti-league candf- date, although he supports the league in the original preparation of which he ad- mittedly played an important part. 4. He contends that President Wilson lhas scrapped his own league because Of | his adherence to Article X. whereas Tn This public writings and utterances ne mas supported and defended Article with devotion approximating that of President Wilson.
 In this connection. it may be stated without fear of contradiction that where 1 as official Washington is not surprised 1 in the apparent incoherence of the va rious Hardlng statements, it is surprised and disappointed that Taft, in effort 10 1 pr ove affi ssty between oil and water. has apparently ASrayed from the path of po-
 litisal hon and rlsn's'asnsss washington. October -(special)= The wonder grows that in the face <of
 democratic silence. republicans persist in