The New York herald., 1920-01-02
'bORAH LETTER
ASKS LOWDEN'S
LEAGUE VIEWS
Senate Leader of 'Irreconcil-
ables" Calls on Him as Re-
publican Candidate.
tSEEk TO MAKE PACT
PRESIDENTIAL ISSUE
First Step Taken in Move to Put
All White House Aspirants
on Record.
BY DONALD A. CRAIG.
Herald Bureau, |
No. 1902 II Street, N. W..
Washington, ID. c., Thursday.

Governor Lowden, of Illinois, is asked
to state his position on the League Of
Nations, as candidate for the Republi-
can Presidential nomination in letter
addressed to him today by Senator Will
lam Il. Borah, OF Idaho, leader OF the
"irreconcilable." anti-treat-- group.
The letter is the first step in an or
ganized movement to put all of the Re-
publican candidates on record in this re-
spect.
Only two OF the prominent candidates
for the Republican domination have
THUS far gone definitely and publicly on
record regarding the peace treaty. They
are Senator Hiram Johnson, of Cali
fornia, and Senator Miles Poindexter of
Washington, both of whom belong to
the Anti-league forces in the Senate and
are making their campaigns boldly upon
that issue.
Major General Leonard Wood has not
definitely announced his position on the
treaty. although his friends say he Is
opposed to the league in it's present
form and will so state at the proper
time. Mr.. Taft, is, of course. strongly
in favor Of league, but he wants reser-
vations adopted along the line OF the
Lodge programme il necessary to obtain
ratification.
<asenator Borah and the other Republi-
can "irreconcilables" are frankly try
ing to defeat the whole peace treaty and
make it an issue in the Presidential
campaign this year. They believe 1t
should never be acted upon finally by
the Senate until the people have had an
opportunity to express their views at
the polls. They know that some Of the
mild reservationists" are afraid OF the
issue and want to keep it out of the
campaign. The appointment by the Re-
publican National Committee at it's
meeting here last month, of an advisory
platform committee is looked upon with
suspicion by the Borah faction, who be-
lieve that this advisory committee may
be used to put the soft pedal on the
treaty as campaign issue.
Afraid Of Treaty.
To block this move on the part OF the
overcautious party leaders, who are afraid
Of the treaty as a party issue, Senator
Borah and his associates will try to tack
the treaty label on every Republican can
didate. AS tast as they come formally
into the field letters similar to that sent
ny Senator Borah today to Governor
I.owden will be addressed to them by one
of these Senators. They will be put to
the necessity of answering Yes" or mo"
10 the league inquiry or OF straddling,
which would be embarrassing.
Here is Senator Borah's letter TO Cover
nor Lowden -
IL understand you are a candidate for
the Presidency. Your distinguished SER
vice as Governor of your State Justify you
n aspiring to and your friends in urging
rour nomination for this high office.
AS candidate ! assume from your
past public record that you are quite
willing to share any opinions you may
have upon public questions with the peo-
pie whose suffrages you solicit.
II am sure you will agree with me
furthermore that party platforms are not
quite so important as the views and con-
sjctons of the successful candidate. The
things which distinguished Mr.. Roosevelt's
administration were found in no platform.
The things which characterize Mr. Will
sons reign are apparently in conflict with
the platform upon which he was elected
The fact is that the issues OF the cam
paign are made after the campaign opens
and the policies OF the administration are
made after the inaugural ball is over.
From all of which IL follows that the most
vital thing in connection with the coming
campaign is the individual views of the
respective candidates upon living issues.
"No EntangIing AIIinnces.v
For nearly a hundred and fifty years
We have in this country. regardless of par
ties, adhered to distinct foreign policy
no ertangling alliances or partnerships
with foreign powers in American affairs
Under this policy we have grown to our
present commanding position in the world
Of affairs. If you should be nominated
and elected President and sit in the place
OF Washington and jefferson. of Jackson
and Lincoln, all of whom earnestly and
consistently sustained this policy, would
you exert your influence and the influence
" your administration to maintain this
foreign policy, or would you consent In
any way to its abandonment or its sub
stantlal modification? DO you believe, IN
other words. that the time has come when
We should abandon the policy of no en-
angling, alliances, no partnerships with
European powers and enter into alliances
or understandings with European powers
Il ask these questions because. regard
sss of what may or may not be in the
platforms. the next administration will
have TO meet this issue in different WAYS
IL might he possible to avoid IL In a cam
paign. although the outlook for that ia
not promising, but II will not be possible
10 avoid IL during the next administration
Powerful forces n this country, co-operat-
~ vith equally powerful and persistent
xosntipued On Rage Two. Col. rhyee.)