New-York tribune., 1920-10-11
Parsons Wrong
ToQuitHarding
Says Griscom
Asserts That Bolter Erred in
His Declaration That the
Republican Nominee Is
Against World League
Quotes Des Moines Speech
Holds America Would Never
Agree to Enter Covenant
Under Wilson-Cox Plans

Lloyd C. Griscom, formerly chairman
of the New York County Republican
Committee, yesterday declared that his
predecessor in that Office, Herbert Par
sons, who few days ago announced
he would vote for Governor James M.
Cox because the Democratic nominee
was for the League of Nations and Sen
ator Harding was not, was wrong in his
conception of Harding and his position
on the League of Nations.
Mr.. Griscom, who like Mr.. Parsons
was member of the American Expedi-
tionary Forces, made this statement in
q letter to Samuel S. Koenig, Republi-
con county chairman. Mr. Griscom
wrote:
81 have read with interest, but with
deep regret, Mr. Herbert Parsons's let
ter to you resigning as member of the
county committee This action of our
old political associate must be as re-
gretful to you personally as 1t is to
me. But am not concerned at present
with the merits of his personal action.
| have held the same party position
that he held and you now hold, as
chairman of the Republican organlza-
ton in New York County. Like Mr..
/ i
to appreciate to the full It's horrors,
and. like him, I am vitality concerned
that out Of this great world catastro-
nhe should come some conditions when
will make war less likely or possible.
Has No Faith in Cox League Plans
"As = supporter of Senator Harding,
I am deeply concerned IN the queslsohs
Mr.. Parsons raises, which are of fun
damental and national Importance.
Either Mr.. Parsons or | must be abso-
lutely wrong in our different concep-
tions of the Republican candidate and
Of his position on the League OF Ma
tions. I believe that if Mr.. Cox is
elected the prospect of the United
States participating in general inter
national agreement will be rs distant
as the moon. J believe If Mr.. Har-
ding is elected he will draw the best
intellect Of the United States into the
consideration of what form of inter
national agreement is possible and
practicable among nations as they are
to- day. 1t should be borne in mind
that the approval of the vast majority
of the people of the United States IS
essential to the success of any such
international agreements. The people
of the United States have never seen
the matter considered in any meeting
in which their spokesman and repre-
sentative was other than an egoist
and visionary. This is a misfortune
to the world and the fault of no one
but the all-powerful individual who
was at the head of the American gov
ernmcnt at the cessation of hostilities
"The Democratic party had a colder
opportunity, which was wasted by viii
full mismanagement,a and the people viii
not trust it for many years. A grav,
responsibility will descend upon the
| Republican party on March 4 next, ans
| am supporting Mr. Harding in full
conf dence that under his Leadership
the failest and fullest consideration
will be given to the drafting of g
practical international agreement fol
the prevention of war. But any agree
ment to be practical must have over
whelming public approval and must
be the result of harmonizing the var-
Gus divergent views held on this sub
ject. 1t should never have been made
a partisan question, Tor no party in
the United States can force an inter
rational agreement upon the rest of
the country. Senator Harding has