Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-25
HARD|NG'S STAND
!, ON LEAGUE GIVES
COX GOOD TARGET
Generally Conceded Senator
Stepped Over Party's
Platform.
BY n. o. MESSENGER.


Candidate Cox's Forthcoming speech
of acceptance is now the live topic OF
the hour in political discussions
among the adherents of both parties
The democrats have been compelled
to listen to the republicans congratu.
late one another on their candidates
speech, and are now eager to hear
from their own man. The republicans
all puffed up with pride over Hard
[ing's speech, are becoming little
anxious whether Candidate Cox may
stick a pin in>em and debate their
satisfaction. :
Most interest in anticipation at
taches to what Gov. Cox may say in
reply to Senator Harding's expansion
of his attitude toward the league OF
nations. 1t is generally conceded that
Senator Harding. in announcing that
if elected he will urge immediate
peace with Germany and proceed at
leisure to consider a league of ma
tons framework, has gone step in
advance of the attitude Of the repub-
lican majority in the Senate and at
small group of senator's irreconcilable
to The treaty and the league.
May Ask Two Questions.
The question is mooted whether
Gov. Cox will counter the republican
charge that he has gone over to Presi-
dent Wilson's position unequivocally,
with the question whether Senator
Harding has not outrun his platform
and the sentiment Of the majority of
the republicans in the Senate and
choosing.
And further, if Senator Harding has
not gone far afeld from the position
of Lodge, Taft. Elihu Root-men who
were willing to accept the covenant
of the league of nations with reser-
vations-and proposes now to throw
into the discard a league of nations
framework already set up and pro-
posed to be remodeled. for a league
with the hall mark of Made in
American" Many politicians see an
opportunity for Gov. Cox to come
back" at the opposition with telling
effect along these lines and are won
dering if he will utilize it to full ad-
vantage.
Senator Hiram Johnson's enthusias-
tic and wholehearted Endorsement of
Senator Harding's pronouncement
upon the league of nations will give
the democrats, it is said, ground for
the charge expected to be made by
Gov. Cox that Senator Harding has
forced his party far beyond the posi-
ton taken by the republican senators
and. indeed, ahead of the platform
declaration itself
Issue Seems Sharply Drawn.
If Gov. Cox draws out and dwells
upon this allegation of fact it is ex-
pected by politicians that the issue
over the league of nations will be
more sharply drawn in the campaign
than was at first contemplated by any
body. Democrats who believe that
the majority sentiment Of the country
favors a league of nations in some
form expect that benefit will accrue
to their campaign by emphasizing this
state of affairs.
One of the signs of the times alb
served and commented upon by poll
ticians in both camps is the confidence
in victory displayed by the adherents
of each party. promising. it is de-
duced, q lively campaign and a close
and exciting finish. There is no ques-
ton that the democrats are infinitely
more encouraged over their prospects
than they were two months ago. and
by the same token that republicans.
when they are frank with themselves
and with ono another admit that
the election does not promise to be
tho walkover they esteemed 1t not
long ago.
There Is general congratulation and
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