Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-10-01

The only reason Mr.. Taft gives for
not boiling is that not enough Re-
publican Senators can be removed by
the Fall election to insure the nee
essary two-thirds majority for the
program which Mr.. Cox and Mr..
Taft both want.
But Senator Lodge, the Republican
leader, expressly promised to abide
by the verdict
The Situation Next March.
If Governor Cox is elected Pres
ident, we shall doubtless enter the
League next March. If Harding is
elected. we shall not only not enter it
then, but probably not during the
entire administration; for Johnson
and his followers will inevitably pro-
claim Harding's election as n vindica-
ton of their extreme opposition, and
any attempt by Harding to run coun-
ter to their demands would only give
Johnson his opportunity to raise his
hue and cry with an eye to the Pres
idency in 1924.
Under such circumstances will the
prudent Harding insist or ,,esist? If
he insists, the usual Senatorial
bate will consume more precious time
while the world is burning. If he de-
sists, the League is lost.
Cox is hole-hearte1lv for the
League, with u united party behind
him and strong platform under
him.
Harding is straddling or oscillat-
ing between the Taft and Johnson
wings of split party and standing
on weak and uncertain platform.
If we really want the League, we
should put it in the hands of its
friends, not its enemies.
While Mr.. Taft's apology" may
seem to excuse him, it is not persua-
sive to the ordinary independent,
who has never been Republican
President of the United States.
Mn. Taft's argument amounts to
saying that the Republican voter
ought not to elect Cox because Lodge,
Penrose, Johnson, Borah, &C., can
and may defy the will of the people
of the United States, therefore, the
people of the United States would
better throw up their hands, abandon
any thought of fighting the obstruc-
tionists, and, instead intrust the next
Administration to their tender care.
If we can't purge the Senate of
all of them in 1920, we'll finish the
job in 1922 or 1924. But purge them
some time we can and will.
Check to Senate Oligarchy."
This brings us TO the second great
reason for opposing Senator Hard
ing, namely: (2) To check the "Sen-
ate oligarchy." If, as Mr.. Taft seems
to think, the people of the United
States can't get the League because
the Republican Senatorial oligarchy,
not the League is the issue. If the
Senators kill the League, they should
beware lest the people kill eventually
the Senate. Outraged democracy in
England reduced the House of Lords
to impotence. Ex-Governor Mccall of
Massachusetts, the distinguished Re-
publican authority, has sounded a |
note of warning against the growing
encroachments of the Senate.
The Republican Senators, or n |
group of them, should be rebuked for
playing politics beyond the waters
edge and over the graves of our SOL
diers in France.
They should be rebuked for defy
ing. public opinion in the choice of
their candidate. The people wanted
Hoover, but, in the Republican Con-
vention which they controlled the
Senators paid no heed to public SEN
timent, not even to the results of
their own Republican primaries.
They have tried one objection to