Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-09
FALSE NOTE FOUND
IN LODGES SPEECH
Ex-President Taft DepIores Sen-
ator's Dodging Of Peace
Treaty Issue
DEFINITE POLICY VITAL

In n signed editorial in todny's issue .
Of the PUBLIC LEDGER former President
Taft reviews Senator Lodges keynote /,
speech az tho Chicago convention at
some length. For the most part he finds
it mastery address. couched in terms
that easily make It superior, in ar
rangcmcnt and lucidity. to any Of Pres.
idcnt Wilson's most fclicitous messages.
Mr.. Taft. however, IS Of the opinion
shat the senator struck false note
in that part Of his address in which he
discusses the League Of Nations. On
this point the former President says:
What all are justly concerned with
is the position that Mr.. Lodge takes
as to the future policy of the Republican
party in respect to the League, and upon
this we are given no light. He de-
Scribcs the reservations on the Monroe
Doctrine, on Article y, on Shantung
and on English representation. He
SAYS: Some of us were deeply con
WINGED that there ought to br no League
at all and that absolute safety could
be- obtained in no other way. Others
Of us. more numerous. believed that the
reservations / have described would pro
tcct the United States against the perils
of the covenant il we joined the League.
IF we Joined the league. Docs
the senator mean that they did not wish
the league when they voted for it:
He cannot mean this, and yet the care
ful phrasing leaves an impression OF q
desire to withdraw from this vote for
ratihcation.- - He does not mention that
the number Of Republicans who favored
tho latter course was thirty. five. while
the number who opposed the league al
together was fourteen, and that ma
iority Of the Senate within seven of
two thirds sustained the league with
reservations. lie appeals many times
for approval Of what the Republicans
have done in the Senate. but he does not
say whether the action of tho thirty
/ five or the action of the fourteen should
br approved. Such approval is impor.
tant only as it determines the future
policy of the party. He does not advise
the convention TO determine this solely
important question, and he evidently do
prrcatcs decision on that point. He
seeks to hold within the party men
whose bolting from the party he fears If
tho convention SuStainS the action of tho
ma jOrity of which he was the leader ;
but the difference between the thirty
five and the fourteen is question
which will not down. which the party
representatives must decide on the 4th
of March next.
"Ilcrc is an issue upon which tho
pcopl" who are invited 60 vote tho Re
publican ticket nave a right to know
what is to be the position of the party
when II gets into power. Ii cannot be
~mothcrcd in II platform. People can
not hc fooled by united attack upon Mr..
Wilson's treaty without reservations.
because every one knows that there Is no
chance for the ratification OF the treaty
and the league without the Lodge res
crvatiOns. Tn" only real issue over
the treaty is whether the league with
those reservations shall be- adopted or
whether we shall be left in confusion.
dependent on Germany as to how we
are to get out of the war.
This dodging Of the issue is not even
cXpcdcnt, because the nominee will be
forced TO declare himself on il. If he
declares himself against the league al.
together. he will lose the support of
the friends Of the league with rCscrva
tionS. who are undoubtedly formidable
number of the Republican party. II he
declares for the treaty with the Lodge
reservations. he will lose the Sim Fcin-
CrS and pro Germans and the other sup.
portcrS of Mr.. Johnson. Why should
nor tn" convention take the rcSpOnSi-
bilityt The weaker course only post
poncS the evil day little WHILE.