Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-19
Mr.. WILSON'S INTERVIEW
AIMED AT THE DEMOCRATS
He Attacks the Republicans, but He
Wishes the San Francisco Con-
Ventlon to Do His VIII

TONSIDERATION of the interview
- with President Wilson in the New
York World should begin with a rccog-
milton Of the fact that his consent to
it's publication was doubtless due to his
appreciation of the strategic value OF
statement from him at this time.
The Republican convention has met,
adopted a platform and nominated a
ticket. When the interview was pub
lishcd. ten days remained before the
Democratic convention would meet.
The Republican candidate had made no
Interpretation of the platform. The
time was ripe for the President to at
tack the platform before Senator Hard
ing had had an opportunity to set forth
his views on it's meaning, and the time
was also ripe for the President to re-
mind the Democratic convention of what
tho President expected of it. in the hope
that with sufficient notice to the dele
gates il would be easier for his friends
to persuade them to adopt the kind Of
a platform which he thinks the occasion
demands.
It remains to be seen whether his
party will follow the President in San
Francisco with any greater unanimity
than it followed him in the Senate.
In spite of his insistence on the ratif-
cation of the peace treaty, with no
changes in the covenant of the League
of Nations. twenty one Democratic
senator's voted for the Lodge rescrva
tions while twenty three opposed them.
Only twelve Republicans voted with the
twenty three Democrats, yet the Re
publican convention respected the sus-
capabilities OF these twelve senator's and
adopted platform on which it was
believed they could stand.
The reason for this was set forth by
Mr.. Hoover when he said that "thc
compromises on the platform and the
candidates are proof that we have not
arrived at an era of new political and
social tendencies. - And Mr.. Hoover
also pointed out the uncertainty of the
realization of the Presidents hopes in
San Francisco when he said that "for
this same reason the same divergent
groups and the same attitude Of com
promise will be found in the Democratic
convention
This thought must have obtrudcd
itself upon Mr.. Wilson also. for he
says that he hopes and believes that the
platform to be adopted Mt San Fran
cisco will be more progressive and
clearer in understanding than that
enunciated by the Republicans in Chi
CagO. Until the Democracy has made
its compromises, the compromises of
tho Republicans are fair game for the
President.
Of course. he attacks the League of
Nations plank. Its unsatisfactory
character has already been discussed in
this newspaper. There is no use in
denying that the voters can read into
it what pcasps them. The opponents
of the league can say that it sustains
their view. and the friends of the league
can insist that it leaves the party free
to support any society of nations or
ganized for disrouraGing war.
Indeed, former President Taft. who
has been one of the most consistent ad-
voCates Of the league. finds the plank
broad enough to permit his support of
it. He has said that the proposed de-
vices for settling International questions
are the same as those provided for in
the league covenant. Different names
are used. il is true. but tie substance
il the same. As no one is opposed to
the entrance Of tho United States into
an association Of nations in which the
interests Of the United States are to
be protected, tho platform was perfectly
safe when it declared in favor of such
an association.
But the President in his interview
has seen tt to charge the Republicans
with opposing such an association an
association first proposed by William
Mckinley and indorSed since by other
Republican leaders. With apparent de-
liberation he omts the name OF Mr..
Taft in his list OF Republican friends
Of the project.
His purpose seems TO be to raise the
issue. not Of the entrance of the United
States into a league of nations. but Of
the acceptance of the league covenant
in the treaty without change as against
its acceptance with such reservations
a. commend themselves to the judgment
of the Senate. He desires his Solemn
referendum on this And Mr.. Taft
secms to agree with him that the refer
cndum will bc on the question, WAS
Mr.. Wilson right in killing the league
with the Lodge rescrvations?"
Senator Harding has not yet ex-
pressed himself at any length and he
will not until he issues his letter Of
acceptance. But in commenting on the
Presidents interview he said that he
was sure that the Republican party
would gladly welcome a referendum on
the question Of the foreign relationship
Of this republic and the Republican at
titude of preserved nationality.
This IL good 50 far as it goes. Mr..
Harding is expected to go further. As
one of tho senator's who voted for tho
Lodge reservations, he cannot very well
do less than announce his belief in tho
league covenant as modified by roScr
vations or interpretations intended TO
protect American interests. Thi, will
put him squarely in favor of an inter.
national association already organized
and preparing to function and awaiting
the entrance Of the United States into
it on its own terms. IT does not matter
very much in what form Of word, he
puts his views. There is intelligence
enough in the average man TO discover
what Mr.. Harding means when he de
liberatPly sets out to say something
with meaning in it,
Mr.. Wilson may discover that Mr.
Harding knows as much az he does
about the historical attitude of Repub.
lican leaders toward an international
association to secure world peace. The
senator is not likely 10 continn his rnfnr-