New-York tribune., 1920-08-15
Harding Makes
Notable Gains
In California
Sacramento Bee,' Which
Was Big Help to Wilson in
Winning State, Comes Out
for Republican Nominee
Undiluted Americanism
Sees League as Big Issue
of the Campaign and Does
Not Approve Cox Stand
By Carter Field

w NH)iiiA>0 O4N, aug. IL NdlilOIH Ia
the state whose belated returns were
so eagerly waited four years ago, and
whose electoral vote kept Woodrow
Wilson. in the White House, will give
no such heartache to Republican lead
ers this November, judging from in
dications drifting into Washington.
Following Hiram Johnson into the
Republican camp has come "The Sacra-
mento Bee" the famous fighting organ
of Charles K. McClatchy. In 1916 "The
Bee mildly supported Wilson, and it
was in the counties around Sacramento
and through northern California, where
the paper circulates, that Wilson piled
up the votes which overcame the
Hughes majority in Los Angeles and in
southern California
Announcement that "The Bee" would
support Harding, therefore, was re-
ceived here to-day with intense inter
est by politicians of both parties. In
1916 "The Bee" supported Johnson en-
Enthusiastically with never good word
for Hughes, while President Wilson
was mildly praised. The willingness of
the California voters to split their
tickets has been a matter OF political
comment ever since.
Phelan Looks Like Winner
This year. it is said by those. familiar
with the intricacies of California poll
tics; the situation may we'll be re-
versed and California give its electoral
vote TO Harding while electing a Demo
cratic Senator. James D. Phelan, the
wide circle of friends. The fight for
the Republican nomination against him
has got into bitter stage, with a
strong possibility that William Kent,
& strong pro-Wilson independent, will
carry off the Republican nomination.
In any event the bitterness is likely to
be carried to the polls and result in
much cutting of the Republican Sena-
torial nominee. In the Democratic
camp Phelan is unopposed for renom-
ination.
Phelan is given great deal of
credit for having brought the Demo
cratic National Convention to Cali
fornia, and the local pride of the state
was immensely gratitied at obtain
ing it.
The addition of "The Bee" to the
Harding press does not leave Governor
Cox very much in the way of substan-
tial newspaper support in California.
The chief advocate of the League of
Nations in the state, "The Los Angeles
Times" has accepted Harding, while
the opponents of the league have for
the most part refused to accept Cox,
no matter what their previous political
ties.
Incidentally, Phelan owes his cleo
ton six years ago, to men who are now
working vigorously for the success of
the Republican national ticket and who
! ,,-h; 0t> Dkolo
being reelected. This provides q situa-
ton, of course, very frequent in poll
tics, the natural outco of which
would be the reelection of Phelan and
the success of the Harding electors.
Editorial Explains Position
Following is the editorial of "The
caption, 1.-The Bee will support War
rem g. Harding for the nations Presi-
dent:
THE last official, authoritative docu-
mentary statement of principles of the
opposing parties and the contending
Candidates is now before the voters.
"On another page to-day The Bee
publishes in full the speech of accept
ance of Governor James NJ. Cox of
Ohio, the Democratic nominee for
President of the United States.
"It is in many ways clever docu-
ment. 1t puts forth several good
points, stands squarely for d number
of sound principles and then advocates
other things not so sound.
Along this line it compares we'll
with Harding's speech of acceptance,
which was also a mixture of the ele-
ments of political Judgment, not to say
righteousness, and of injudicious and
reprehensble propaganda.
"However in the presence of the one
great, dominating and overshadowing
issue these are comparatively minor
considerations.
THAT one all-pervading issue is
whether the United States shall be an
Independent nation in the highest and
best and freest acceptation of the term
or whether she shall be subject to the
will, the desires and purposes of alien
nations.
Upon that point the Democratic
nominee, James NJ. Cox, stands decid-
edly and definitely in support and in
championship of the Wisonian League
of Nations, in support and in cham
pionship of the practical subserviency
of America to other lands and to alien
ambitions.
''The Republican nominee, Warren G..
Harding, stands decidedly and definitely
opposed thereto; stands decidedly and
definitely for undisputed and unalloyed
self determination by this nation.
And as the days go by his stand
becomes more outspoken, more settled
and stronger.
Issue Has Been Made
"The issue has thus been made not
only by the platforms OF the opposing