The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-10-15
ELiHU ROOTS
SILENCE.

E!ihu Root has just returned from
Europe, in the midst OF the presiden-
tial campaign. with nothing to say
For many years Mr.. Root has been
recognized as the intellectual leader
OF the Republican party. He was See
rotary OF War in the Cabinet OF Pres
ident Mckinley, Secretary OF State
in the Cabinet OF President Roose.
welt, United States senator from New
York. and in way the general coun-
sci for the Republican Party.
For twenty years there has been no
importast Republican policy on which
Elhiu Root was not consulted.
He is returning from Europe after
the performance of one of the most
notable acts OF public service of his
long CAREER. Before he left he framed
the League OF Nations plank for the
Republican national platform. and
while he was abroad he played the
leading part in drafting the plan. for
the Permanent Court of International
Justice under the League OF Nations.
As the League OF Nations is the chief
issue In the campaign, one might
take II for granted that Mr.. Root
would have great deal to say about
1t at this time, but unfortunately dur
ing his absence the Republican can
didate for President has adopted SO
many conflicting positions in regard
TO the issue that Mr.. Root finds no
refuge except In silence.
For years Mr.. Roots enemies, when
they sought to attack him, have made
Il practice of parading the names of
some OF his former clients. 1t is not
an edifying list; yet II may be doubt
ed If Mr.. Root ever had a more
crooked client than the Republican
party of 1920, whose affairs he is try
ing to handle. The less said about
that kind of client the better.
The day OF Mr.. Roots arrival Gov.
Cox made special demand for Sen,
ator Harding to say whether or not
he had written a private letter to
Senator Johnson in which in which
the candidate ad accepted the Batta-
lion of Death Interpretation of his
speech on the League. Senator
Harding's only response is that; Il
say nothing to any body on the sub
ject of foreign relations that | do not
say in public utterance." and 1T is
fair to Senator Johnson to say that
he never asked for any letter"
Whether he asked for letter or
not, Senator Johnson evidently re
ceived confidential assurance for he
is joyfully proclaiming that Senator
Harding scrapped the League" and
speeches in the East under the al5-
pices of the Republican Nat; ms
pieces of the Republican National
All OF Senator Harding's
anti league supporters are not so
well satisfied however, as the Sena-
tor from California. The Hearst
are the chief journalistic
hackers OF the Harding cadidacy.
Neither the New York Tribune nor
the Sun. the Ney York Herald nor
the Boston Transcript nor the Chica-
go Tribune was go ardent in It's
of Harding and its OPP
position to Cox as the Hearst papers,
and not long ago the New York
raucously insisting that
Senator Harding say whether he Wis
against the League of Nations frii2,
top TO bottom" made this threat
apropos of Mr.. Roots work in Eu-
rope:
IL needs no seventh. son of
seventh son TO tell what Hiram
Johnson would do to Senator
Harding and his Republican tick
ct il Hiram Johnson should be-.
come convinced that Republican
opposition to the League is not
al Oh
Mr.. Root has returned to a Repub,
Iican party in which William r.
Hearst and the New York Tribune
are boon companions. In which Will
lam II. Taft and Hiram II. Johnson,
who do not agree about anything, are
the candidate in the be-
lief that he is in sympathy with
them, in which the pro-Germans and
the Sim Feiners are rallying around
the Front Porch in company with
the American Defense Society and
the other professional 100 per cent
ed-blooded Americans" in which
the strains of THE Star Spangled
Banner" mingle with the strains of
. Deutschland uber Allies. and the
purposes to yindicate the
loyalty of the United States TO the
great principles for which It's soldiers
laid down their lives on the field of
battle by making separate peace
with Germany and Sinking all the
incurred in yictiorus
war. h
Little wonder that Elihu Root has
To say. No words that he
might utter could be half so elo-
nuent "a his silence