Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-07
JOHNSON PLEDGES
SUPPORT TO PARTY
Republicans Urged to Stand by
Ticket Nominated in
Chicago
BY the Associated Press

San Franrisco. July 7.--Support of
the Republican party with candi-
date standing four square upon the
platform is the only choice left ''those
who believe in safeguarding. protecting
and preserving our Amcricanism. Sen
ator Hiram w. Johnson, Of California,
declared in statement at his home
here today.
For more than n year the con-
test over the Presidents League Of
Nations has been wagcd IN Congress-
Senator Johnson's statement said. sit
has been the all engrossing and para
mount issue. OF necessity, this issue
came to the conventions Of the great
political parties. Both Republicans and
Democrats. in their platforms, have in
dulged in the usual political verbositv.
but nevertheless these platforms. in di-
rect opposition to each other, sharply
define and clearly present the question
for decision in the November election.
Republicans Against Peace Treaty
"The Republican party declared that
the Presidents covenant failed signally
to accomplish its purpose, and con
tanned stipulationS not only intolerable
for an independent people. but certain to
produce the injustice. hostility and con
troversy among nations which it pro-
posed to prevent and 'rcpudated to n
degree wholly unnecessary and unjusti-
fable the time hnnorcd policies in favor
OF peace declared by Washington. JEFF
ferson and Monroe
'The Republican party stands. there
fore, firmly against the Presidents s
| covenant as presented dpnounces il as
| breeding war rather than promoting
peace. and reaflirms tho time -honored,
! nation old policies Of Washington, JEFF
ferson and Monroe.
"The Democratic party. on the other
hand. rejected every effort to modify
or qualify the Presidents proposed
| League Of Nations. indorsed the Pres
ident's attitude and took it's position in
| favor OF the league as presented. 1t
is true that the Democrats in effort
to placatc say something about reserva
| tions which might make clearer or more
specific the obligations Of the United
! States, but the language is meaningless
and does not at all alter the essential
position of the Democratic party for
the league as presented.
"The two parties acted in similar
fashion in one respect. but from differ
ent motives and for different reasons.
Both rejected the pleas for adoption of
| the league Win reservations, the Dem >
ocrats because they wcr" for the league
as presented, and the Republicans be :
cause no reservations devised BY the hu
man mind could anticipate the contin
gcncies which might arise in the future
from an instrument of such poteptiaI
possibilities for harm.
Issue Up TO People
Thus the issue finally comes from
the forum of Congress to the final ar.
bitrament of the American people. Tn,
overshadowing question in the cam.
paign. therefore. is whether we entc,
the muclStrom Of European and Asiati,
politics and diplomacy and become I
part of the cynical imperialism of IN,
old world. or whether Amcriru shall liy,
her life in her own way. independent
unfcttered. mindful always of her obi
cations to humanity and civilization
but free to act as each crisis shall arise
and maintaining always the policy o
Washington and Jefferson and Monroe
Of friendship with oil nations, entan
Cling alliances with none.
"With candidate standing four
square upon the platform, the issu
leaves those who believe in safeguard
ing, protecting and preserving ou
Americanism but one choice, and tina
is to support the Republican party"