Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-23
ANTI-RooT PROPAGANDA
NOT LIKELY TO FOOL HARDING
Hand How Nearly the Distinguished
New Yorker Agrees with Him

| | IL becoming evident that the enemies o
the league covenant. defeated In the cleo
tion. ARE continuing their fight on now line
Their attack Just now IL directed to the
end of making 1t impossible for senator
Harding to ask Elhu Root to be sis score .
tary of state. That attack IL fast assuming
the proportions of an organized hostile
propaganda against Mr. Root. and q
friendly propaganda for Senator Knox.
| Senator Knox Is urged upon the attention
| Of the President elect as the man who In =
| troduccd the resolution for n separate peace
with Germany and who delivered himself in
the Senate Of a technical lawyers argu.
ment against the league covenant. II 1t is
| possible to tie Mr.. Harding up with Senator
Knox the little Americans with parochial
minds will conclude that they have settled
the matter, and that the United States will
| refuse to enter any permanent world asso
| citation for the encouragement Of war.
In order to strengthen their case these
people are announcing that Mr.. Roots In
trrnational policies are at odds with those
of Mr.. Harding. They are making other
statements. but this is the only one which
deserves serious attention.
1t is pertinent to ask what are Mr.. Roots
international policies? He has made them
so clear that there can be no misunder-
standing of them. They were set forth In
II message to Mr.. Harding from Europe last
August when he was participating with
other distinguished lawyers In making plans
for the organization of the international
court provided for In the league covenant,
and they were later elaborated in formal
address delivered in New York after he had
returned from Europe.
Mr.. Root believes In an international as.
SoCiation to discourage war. lie believes
that one OF It's Indispensable agents is an
international court. lie believes that the
league covenant should be modified 30 far
as the participation of the United States is
concerned by the elimination of Article y.
He condemned this article when the cove
nant was first made public on the ground
that it would freeze In permanent form the
boundaries of the new states created by the
peace treaty. He did not think that II was
expedient that boundaries fixed at Il time
when IL was difficult il not impossible for
men to act with impartial justice should be
made permanent by international agreement
with penalties provided for changing them.
He did not object to the article on the
ground that it would force America to send
troops to Europe, an objection which does
not touch the merits or dcmerits Of the
article at all. but merely echoes n selfish and
shrking mood of people unwilling to assume
their obligations in the world at large. But
Mr.. Root agrees with those who favor the
elimination or qualification of Article y.
So far as he has expressed himself. SEN
ator Harding agrees with Mr.. Root on the
wisdom of an association to prevent war, on
an international court and on league COW
enant without Article y. There il no valid
evidence to support the statement that Mr..
Roots international policies are at odds
with those of Mr.. Harding On the con-
trary there IL much evidence that the two
men are In agreement. There is the highest
authority for believing that Mr.. Roots
August dispatch TO Mr.. Harding was heart
ening to the presidential candidate. 1t IL
understood that he expressed his gratifica-
tion that man of Mr.. Roots knowledge
and experience agreed so nearly with him.
As the result Of this expression and because
Of other facts those close to Mr.. Harding
have said that it is morally certain that
Mr.. Root will be asked to enter the cabinet.
Yet. in spite Of these facts. not unknown
10 his opponents. the concerted propaganda
against Mr.. Root continues. 1t is doubt
less hoped to create such n situation as will
make Mr.. Harding think it inexpedent to
call to his assistance the most distinguished
International statesman in the Republican
party at the present time.
The attacks may be expected to increase
in vrulcnCe during the next two weeks
because at the expiration of about that time
Mr.. Harding will meet in Marion company
Of advisers. among whom will be Mr..
Root. to discuss the formulation Of definite
plans for the foreign policy of his
administration. This conference will be
held in the fulfllment Of his campaign
pledge to consult the best minds in the
nation before announcing any specific pro
gram. Among Nhe men present will be
opponents of the league, as well az it's
friends The latter will be in the majority
il the meeting is to bc at all representative |
of national sentiment, for an overwhelming
majority Of the best and most enlightened
minds favor some kind of league with the
United States member Of it,
Senator Knox will not be ignored when
the invitations are sent out. This was made
certain by the inclusion of his name in a
preliminary list Of those to be invited. pub
ishcd today. lie ought to be present. for
he represents the sentiment of a small living
wing in the Senate and II small group
outside 1t is likely that the men managing
the anti Root propaganda will tell the pub |
lie that the invitation is the preliminary to
an invitation to sit IN the cabinet. Senator |
Knox would grace tn" cabinet table He has |
had experience of that kind and II well |
quulhed But, with all du" respect to him |
and TO his abilities. he is not the man 10 |
preside in the State Department during the |
first year Of the administration of Mr.. |
Harding
Senator Knox'S views of foreign policy are !
not in accord with those expressed by Mr.. |
Harding in the campaign. They are nearer |
10 the views Of Senator Borah and Of those
other Senator's who voted against the rati.
fcation Of the treaty with the Lodge rcser.
vatlOns Indeed. Senator Knox was one of |
the twelve Republican senator's who voted |
agninst ratification when the treaty was
finally rejected. lining himself up with
Borah Brandcge", La Toilette, Moses and
the rest OF the irrrconciabcs. Senator
Harding, who voted for the Lodge rcsolu-
tions twice, was paired at the final vote in
such way as to Civ" the resolutions his
support.
senator Knox was opposed to the whole