Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-15
c. 0. P. STATEMENT
D|SS|PATES FOES
HOPES FOR SPLIT
Harding Des Moines Speech
Wins Support, Although 1t
Caused UneaSineSS.
BY N. o. MESSENGER

NEW YORK, October 15-Demo-
cratic hopes for split among the
republicans over the league of ma
tons. following Candidate Harding's
Des Moines speech. are believed to
have dissipa ted into thin air with the
issuance of the statement. signed by
thirty-one distinguished republicans.
acquiescing in Senator Harding's atti-
tude toward the league. and decalring
that election of republican President
is the surest means of securing q
world agreement to preserve peace;
When Senator Harding at Des
Moines took his most advanced step
against the Wilson league of nations
it appeared possible that many re-
publicans recognized as favorable to
the general idea of a league of ma
tions. though opposed to the Wilson
covenant minus reservations. would
have to leave the party or backslid
on their convictions.
Parsons DesertiOn.
Loud hosannas went up from the
democratic headquarters when Her
bert Parsons, former republican ma
tional committeeman from this state.
did leave the party. They hailed it
as happy augury of more desertions
to follow. Indeed. the republican
managers were Il bit uneasy for
time They did not know how some
of the big men in the party. favorably
generally to league, might take
the candidates apparent forward step
toward the irreconcilable camp. If
such men as Elihu Root, Charles E.
Hughes. George w. Wickersham and
others should withdraw or remain
passive the effect might be con-
tagious upon thousands of repub
licans who are known to svmpathize
with the position of these gentlemen.
as differentiated from that of Sena-
tors Johnson, Borah. Brandegee and
the other irreconcilables.
They also feared for the effect upon
the professional element, the high
brow university men, who have
following among the Intellectuals.
Already there had been some de-
fections at Yale and elsewhere. which
had been promptly reported and ex-
plotted by the very watchful and eff
cient democratic publicity bureau.
whose young gentlemen never miss any
tricks of this kind.
The pronunciamento made public
today has dispelled the fears of the
republicans and dashed the hopes of
the democrats.
Perusal of the list of signers and
consideration of the standing of the
men, together with the reasons set
forth for the stand they have taken.
show that the apprehended or hoped
for detection will not take place.
Indications of Teamwork.
Comparison of the text of the state
ment with Senator Harding's speech
at Louisville last night indicates good
teamwork" That is to say, it Is
evident that the candidate and the
inf al Ci0
cord and understanding on the candi-
dates attitude toward the league of
nations. AS construed here, it is
scrap the Wilson league, because it
is dangerous to America, and then
take up plans for an effective world
agreement.
The next question is as TO how
Senators Hiram Johnson and William
Borah will view this love feast OF the
candidates and the infiuentials. since
these two men are in the game on
their express understanding that the
party's policy is to scrap the league
now and forever. 1t is dift1cuit to see
how they can leave. -,
IT is asked, where could they go?"
Certainly not with the democrats, and
il is not assumed that there are the
makings of sizable party in people
who would reject such leadership as
Harding, Hughes. Root, Wlckersham
and Henry w Taft. especially as they
subscribe to the principal tenet of
Johnson and Rorah that article or
the covenant is deadly.
Candidate Cox's speech at Columbus
is characterized by republican leaders
here as "the crowning act OF defama.
Ton of the American electorate.
Thev add that it verifies their pre-
diction, made at the outset of his cam
paign, that he Would. peiore t"e emu
Of It. talk red"
The concensus of opinion among the
republican leaders is that his latest
onsiaught on the party and the candi-
date will react. just as the slush fund
charges did. to drive away from the
democratic party the Independent voters
whn are now in the position of weighing
carefully the merits and characteristics
of the two candidates. regardless of
narty. Also. that it will clinch the de-
termination of democrats contemplating
voting with the republicans. rather than
reclaim them, on the ground of what the
republican leaders term the violence of
Gov Cox's remarks in associatins in
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