The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-07
c. OPP. WALk-AWAY
TALK NOT TAKEN
SERIOUSLY NOW
Strong Men in Party Admit
They Can See Breakers
Ahead-Fear Same Split
That Took Place in 1912.

Ahead-Fear Same Split
That Took Place in 1912.
WASHINGTON. u, C.. Feb, DE
spite manifestations Of unboundod con
fidenee and repeated assertions that the
republican candidate for president Will
nave a NRlk-aWay, no matter whom
he may be, there are strong men in
that party who privately admit they
can see breakers ahead. They declare
that conditions within the party now
are not unlike they were az this time
IN 1919 and with many forces, each
pulhng at cross purposes, u rs not I'M
probable that another great scheme VIII
nevelop In the Republican ranks His
tory has an uncomfortable way OF re-
peating itself
To begin with there are two great
issues now before the people and on
both Of these the Republican party
both leaders and rank and file, are
hopelessly divided, These two issues
are the treaty and league Of nations
compact and the question Of universal
training. II might be possible to
latter but the former will admit Of no
such course. II must be faced In an
uuequivocal manner, a realization ~
which probably accounts ror the iran
tic appeals OF Chairman Will r.. Hayes,
urging early ratification.
Lodge Not Strong Leader,
But it is far easier for those who
have their ears to the ground and be-
lieve they sense the temper Of the
people to call for ratification than 1t
Is for the party leaders here IN Wash
ington to respond to that call. Sena-
tor Lodge. cultured. refined and stu
dent Of men and affairs though he may
, be, is not a strong leader and he eN.
ercises comparatively little control over
his colleagues IN the senate. More
over, as a partisan he isn't altogether
sure that II would be best for the Re-
publican party to ratify the treaty and,
not being able to make up his own
mind, he swings from sympathy with
the Borah- johnson 'irreconCilables"
one day TO the McCumber- McNary
mild reservationists" the next
Men who have had occasion and OPP
portunity 70 tour the country and OBJ
serve conditions declare there is an
overwhelming demand for the ratth-
cation OF the treaty, Combining those
who either want the treaty ratified as
presented or with AmericAnigiug res
creations II IL declared the Democratic
party Is almost unanimously for II
and most of the rank and file among
the Republicans feel the same way
about H. 1t Is among the leaders Of
the Republican party, great and small,
that principal opposition is found They
are doing the antileague, shouting and
using every means IN their power TO
force the Republican party, as an or
ganization, into position where II
must come out flat-footedly against the
treaty.
AS an Illustration Of their attitude
they have made the league OF nations
and treaty the issue in the campaign
which has just opened In the Thrill
Missouri district TO eject n successor
to ], W. Alexander recently named
Secretary Of commerce. This contest
Is thus being staged on national lines
and the result may and doubtless VIII
have a potent Influence on ratification
or rejection Of the treaty. II the Re-
publican candidate should win, what
ever collateral issues there may be, II
is almost a foregone conclusion that
there will be no ratification this year
and that the Republican party, at the
Convention In Chicago will come but
squarely against league and treaty,
Treaty Made an Issue.
But If the Democratic candidate wins
the antlleague faction IN the Republican
party already is prepared with an alihi
1t Will claiIE, and truthfully so, that the
district Il normally Democratic by
about 5000 votes and thus the result
was TO be expected They will not be
slienced by defeat, but all powerful IN
shaping the party policy IN the event
of victory, SO have everything to win
and nothing to lose.
There Is no hope OF compromising
differences within the Republican ranks
over the league. The antlleaRue lead
els make no distinction between the no.
lkservationists and the mild reservation
lists, Both kinds are Jumped together
and characterized as 'un- American
pro-British," and so on. These anti
league leaders are militant and deter
mined and unless they have their way
at the national convention that little
meeting promises TO be It sort Of dog
and-parret time, with any sort OF an
outcome possible, In this connection II
may be borne In mind that Senators
Borah and Johnson, leaders In the fight,
have had some experience In boiling Re
publican conventions and in this fight,
as in that Of 1912, each Is sctuated by
the belief that he is battling in a sacred
cause, There IL no compromise for
them; ii ~ either victory or defeat
Against Universal Service.
Now the differences which have de.
vtloped within the Republican ranks OF
ing Is another thing which has set tho
party forecasters to thinking The
American Legion, which, however muct
II may have claimed to be nonpartisaT
and nonpolitical, certainly does carr,
the Big Stick" aud It has declared
for this training, II Is up to the Re
publican house and senate to eithe
provide this training or reject II and /
II does there will BE- no way OF prevent
ing big increase In taxes Those ar
the two horns to this dilemma an,
neither Of them is relished by the Re
publican leaders
Now while all this turbulence exist
within the Republican ranks, although
more or less under the surface tn
Democrats are undsturbed II is tru
that Republican propagandistS and III
Republican newspapers have sought T.
portray one William Jennings Bryan a
the frebrand but that is the case q
the wish being parent 10 the thought
and to prevent too close scrutiny Of tn
disorder In their own house Mr. BryaI
and President Wilson both want tn
treaty adopted and the only dtfferenc
between them Is the extent OF the sac
rfices TO he made to accomplish thi
end, Moreover however strong Mr.
Bryan may be In the party there Is n
apparent probability that he can wres
control OF the organization away iron
President Wilson. Even at this dis
lance II is safe 10 predict that Prcsi
dent Wilson will dominate the Sal
Francisco convention and the platform
will conform more nearly to his wtshe