The Washington herald., 1920-10-11

FIGHT HARDING
Political Scout Finds C.
0. p. Apprehensiive Since
Des Moines Speech.


politician, said that travel maketh
a ready man" Just what his lord
ship meant by ready in this con
nection may admit OF several con
structions, but one would like to
have the opinion Of those present
day philosophers, VIII Hays and
George White, as to the effect OF
travel on a Presidential candidate.
For ] find that partissns Of each
OF the candidates are somewhat
aghast at what those gentlemen
have been saying on the stump.
Just at present the followers OF
Senator Harding are the more dis
tressed and are inclined 70 hold that
much Of the tact and diplomacy OF
the front porch were abandoned by
their candidate when he took TO the
great highway.
II is the Des Moines speech, which
is causing apprehension 70 straight
Republicans, remorse to the large
number OF Democrats who had
planned 10 vote for Harding be
cause Of dissatisfaction with the
administration. and high glee 70 the
regular Democrats, who profess to
see in it assurance Of a Republican
split that may keep them in power
In Washington yesterday talked
with a number Of anu-sdministra-
4 tion Democrats who had planned 10
vote for Harding. They were all
pro-leasue men, but in sympathy
with reservations that would elimf-
nate Article Y and otherwise pro
tect the United States from undue
Involvement in European problems.
They had believed that Harding
might be relied upon to urge the
participation Of the United States in
the league, with suitable reservs-
tiohs and amendments. as his Sens-
torisl votes indicated. But they
hold his Des Moines speech to fore
tell that he will ignore the very
substantial nucleus which the League
SO far as constituted now offer
and seek to form some sort Of new
and vague association which may
take years TO put into shape even
IL IL can be done at all.
Il do not believe in the Versailles
covenant in its present form" said
one OF these Democrats" and 7 an
outraged by the determination ~
the President to force il upon the
country. But ! do believe in SOM
form Of league. II was only after
good deal Of painful consideration
that / made up my mind 20 aba udru
my own party in this campaign and
vote the Republican ticket The
only thing that would justify ne to
this action would be the conviction
that the nation was more likely n
get from Harding with a Repubn-
can Senate some form OF interns-
tional association that would in
sure peace without putting the
United States so wholly into the
hands OF its European associate
/ as would be the case with the Wi
son league, and Article Y UnChanE-
ed. l felt justified in this assUmp-
tion by the Senator's earlier utter
ances, and by the character Of some
Of the leading men in the league o.
nations movement who had asso-
cisted themselves with him Nov.
il it is 10 appear that the issue is
10 be Wilson league or no league
I at all. little as I like the former.
! would rather risk IL and stand
, with my party than TO abandon my
, party for a vague uncertainty"
, Sees League scrspped.
! talked also with a leading Re
publican member OF the league g.
, enforce peace, a follower OF Tai,
and OF WickeTsham and a man. WI.
while bitterly disappointed by II"
nomination Of Harding, had nom
the less determined TO support him
! in the conviction that in view Of the
virtual certainty OF a Republican
Senate there would be more chance
OF getting a suitable international
agreement with Republican Prcsi-
dent than with Cox. however spe-
ciic the latter might be in his
promises Of support OF the Versailles
Is covenant.
Just where docs this leave me
l asked this gentleman somcwha.
dolorously. And where does IL leavs
Taft, and wickersham? We ac-
E cepted in good faith the declaration
= Of the Chicago platform. whi,l
, while far less specific than VIC could
have wished. did not absolutely
shut the door upon the entrance o.
the United States to tho league
Whatever hesitation VIC may have
1, felt at first was sIlayed by the ear
Iier utteranCeS Of our nominee which
, VIC thought pledged him TO prompl
and effective action in behalf OF
league Now we read that he saws.
q u do not want TO clarity these CHE
; Ieague) obligations. ] want TO turn
- my back upon them. II is not clari-
! hcstiou hut rejection that am
seeking" II seems to me that thls
is fat rcrudiation OF all that thers
lis in the covenant II docs not
! square with Senator HardinE's votr
cast in the Senate for that covenant
4 with reservations. II puts him 90
{ line with Johnson, who defeated
1 our party in 1916. and with Borsh
:. He Is letting the tail waE tho doE
u We sec Hearst CNultinE over Hard
inE's scrsppinE Of the lcsEu" and w
:. cannot but feel that our candidate
has turned from US to the enemy
W. J. 4