The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-07-29
THE DAILY EDITORIAL
DIGEST
A National and Nonpartisan
Summary Of Leading Press
Opinions on Current
Events.

Mr.. Harding has Internationally sur
rendered to Johnson and Borah. He has
thrown over Mr.. Taft and taken sides
with Senator Knox. He has gone back
on the majority of the republican sena-
tors-including himselfr-and given in to
the small minority. In short, Mr.. Hard
Ing Is against ratifying the treaty on
any terms and opposed to entering the
league OF nations upon any conditions.
was said he would. he has scuttled her.
Proof OF this may not seem clear to
the casual reader OF Senator Hardings
rotupd phrases. But close search
FOR his actual thought and intent win
the program which he has finally
ing TO discuss in detail the league cove.
nant. which was, conceived for world
way Of agreeing with johnson that the
league Is an 'accursed"' thing. With
Borah. that 4 IL ''monstrous" and .'in-
famous" Moreover. the republican
in which he will seek a legal state OF
peace: II promise you formal and ef-
fective peace so quickly as q republican
congress can pass It's declaration Tor
the republican executive to sign" That
And II there is TO be anything like
league OF nations II can be, according
to Mr.. Harding's announced purpose,
solely new organization formed AFTER
the discarding and death OF the one now
II Senator Harding has thrust sword
into his own party he has given the
democrats clear Issue and great OPP
portunity 1t IL no longer a question OF
balancing a set OF republican reserva-
lions to the treaty against democratic
set. The republican candidate has
thrown overheard the whole previous
prograni-Tor. pretense--of his party, He
Is against the treaty In any form; OPP
posed to the league. however amended.
This opens the way for any positive
plan which Governor Cox may propose.
Anything affirmative. by the. democrats
will be better than this deadly republic
can negative. Mr.. Harding has cleared
the field for his opponents and given
them a stronger cause and more IA
vorable fighting ground than they could
have hoped for.-New York Times
(Deni., Ind).
Senator. Harding,.s speech accepting
the republican nomination for president
leaves his party with a candidate as
vague and noncommittal in regard to
the league OF nations as its platform.
The other outstanding features OF this
strange deliveran &C. are It's failure Ie ade.
now confronting q distracted world and
its denial OF generous word In ap-
proval of the men at Washington who
successfully directed the moral. physical
the greatest of wars. No pan-German
militarlst smarting under defeat could
be more contemptuously critical OF
American accomplishments at home and
abroad than the author Of this address.
1t Is not Mr.. Harding's evasions, his
narrow craftsmanship. his grievous mis-
use OF the English language or his ap.
parent incapacity to express himself
frankly on many subjects that Will cause
the greatest disappointment in his ut
terances. What Is most depressing Is
streaked through and through. From
his vapid panegyrlc of government by
party, as though since Washington's
day we had ever had anything else. and
his grotesque discovery that the vice.
president is ''the second offlcial' of the
country. to his solemn avowal that mo
man Is big enough to run this republic,
there never has been one" little
will be encountered but platitudes and
clumsy verbal balancing intended to sat
isfy the stand patter of the inner circle
and perhaps to beguile the progressive
who remains In doubt at IA distance.
Welcoming a referendum on his par
TVS defense Of the preserved inherit
lance OF national freedom" Mr.. Harding
throws no light whatever upon his at
titude toward the treaty of peace. He
may want to kill 1t with Hiram Johnson
and Borah; he may be inclined to ham
| string 1t with Lodge. or with Knox he
| may IhVOT al lIlpOSStuie pence
with Germany. but he does not say So
| except as his promise of "a formal and
L effective peace" may be construed as
| subscribing to the Pennsylvania sena-
| tors program. Like his rickety plat
| form, he refers to a new and better re-
| lationship for the peoples OF fle earth
and holds that America, free from
menacing Involvement must express
| It's hope for the fraternized conscience
| Of nations. II this muddled, but grandi-
ose, thought contemplates another So
ciety OF nations the candidate evidently
expects TO fraternize with the conscience
OF Turkey Russia and Mexico. for all
| the other nations are or presently will
be members OF the only league In ex-
| istence and the only league that Is ever
| likely to be In existence. He might
| have made a telling point against the
| democrats by standing with Mr.. Taft in
| favor Of the treaty with bipartisan
| reservations which the president reject
| ed. but fear of both factions OF his d.
| vided party overcame him and so he
stood for nothing tangible.-New York
| World (Dem.). II
/ Mr.. Harding's speech leaves the
| league question where Il was left by the
republican platform We know what
| win happen II the democratic candidate
| is elected, with senate in sympathy
| with him We do not know what Will
| happen n Mr.. Harding Is elected.
att. tnp SulHtrIa thu