Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-07-16

TINE For A

candidates stopped their lodging
and hedging on the leading issues
OF the campaign and got down to
brass tacks. Perhaps they will
when they make their. speech OF
acceptance. at least we hope <. In
the meantime, all this challenging
and accepting of challenges, which
get nowhere at all, may be consid-
cred merely as a jockeying for the
start
But II would look as II both
candidates were having serious
complications stored up for them.
In both parties there are two ex-
treme factions, both claiming to be
loyal and both claiming to know
how their respective candidates
stand on the issues. Yet It is per-
fectly plain that no candidate can
meet both these views. Either there
has got to be a showdown with the
candidate taking q definite stand,
or there will be an attempt at
straddlfng and p~ussyfooting that
will be most disgusting. especially
at this time when the call is for
men with a fixed purpose and a firm
determination.
Take the matter of the League
Of Nations. Governor Cox. In an
nouncing his determination to visit
President Wilson at the White
House Sunday, made q statement
that gave the impression that he
was In favor of the league and that
he was sure his position would meet
with the hearty approval of Presi-
dent Wilson. The inference was
that the Democratic candidate was
going 10 follow President Wilson's
plan of making the League of
Nations the leading issue in the
campaign
-Immediately Senator Harding an
nounced that he would accept the
challenge. But when the words of
5oth candidates are analysed 1t Is
FOUND that neither one has directly
fcommitted himself one way or the
other.
Now along m Franklin D..
Roosevelt, the Democratic vice
presidential candidate, with a state
ment in which he quotes Senator
Harding as saying that should the
Democrats win, the treaty and the
league will be ratified" Mr.. Roose-
welt says the senator is right. mo
one" the Democratic candidate for
vice president goes on to say,
sprobabiy not even Senator Harding
himself, knows what would happen
should the Republicans win. One
branch OF his supporters, such as
Senator Hiram johnson. the
nation that a Republican victory
means no League of Nations. An
other branch. led by such men as
former President Taft, assures the
nation that a Republican victory
means the acceptance Of the league
with certain underlined reservations"
Mr.. Roosevelt sums up the stu
alton as he sees 1t as follows:
"A Democratic victory means
ratification of the treaty and the
League of Nations. which, as the
world knows. is already constituted.
Al Republican victory lea that
the United States. with Russia,
Mexico and Turkey, shall remain
outside. The election of Harding
means that in case of future war
the United States will enter the war
after the conflict has begun. The
election of Cox means that the
United States, in participation with
the other civilized nations of the
world. will. through the League of
Nations. solve International difficult
ties and prevent a recurrence of the
holocaust OF 1s14-1s1S."
But it must be remembered that
this Is Roosevelt speaking. not Cox,
and that Roosevelt is an admins
tration man. thoroughly In accord
with the views OF President Wilson
whereas Cox is the candidate of'the
anti- Wilson forces.
Bn< on the same day that Roose-
xeif's statement is published VIC
read that senator Reed, of Missouri
ere OF the "bitter-enders" in the
senate fight against the ratification
"a the peace treaty that included
re League Of Nations in n form
Lea one OF the bitterest enemies Of
president Wilson. has already taker
fhe lump in behalf OF the Demo
eratjc ticket. having enthusiastieai-
endorsed the nomination ci
4overnor Cox. He opened the
zerocratic campaign In Missourt
"Wednesday night with a speech
zexofed almost entirely to an at
<ek on the League Of Nations and
IL thAt il implies