Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-14
COP. Senate Irreconcilables
Stand Firm Against Any
"Association of Nations"
WOULD OPPOSE HARDING
FOR REELECTION IN 1924
Hiram johnson Would Be Their
Candidate on the Republican or
Third Party Ticket.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Any attempt on the part of Mr.
Harding. when he becomes President
to put through a foreign program
under any name. which in effect would
yield the Washington policy of avoid.
ance of entaagliag alliances would
be a signal for bitter intra-party
warfare.
The republican irreconcilables in the
Senate stand ready to fight to the last
ditch-even to the extent of disrupt
ing the republican party-to prevent
the entry of the United States into
any league of nations or Association
of nations" based upon political
alliance.
Not Hunting Trouble. But
This. frankly, is the position taken
by the opponents of the league of
nations. The irreconcilables are not
seeking the issue. But they will not
run away from it. Moreover. they
will welcome the issue it it is thrust
upon them.
The political future of the Presi-
dent-elect would be jeorardized if he
attempts to hooA the United States
Up in an association OF nations, is
The opinion of the irreccncilables.
1t would mean Hiram Johnson as
"A candidate for President at the end
OF the next TOUR years, and no second
term for Mr.. Harding whether Sena-
tor johnson were successful OF not.
The element in the party opposing
any league would go into the epubli-
can national convention determined to
prevent the denomination of Mr..
Harding and to bring about the nomi-
nation of one of their own leaders.
Failing that this same element.
would undertake the organization of
third party. splitting the republi-
cans wide open.
Thiak HardinE Too Wise.
The irreoonc5lables- 7nsfst. however.
that Mr.. Hards2g is not going to at
tempt to place the United States In
an association of nations based upon
. political alliance. They believe
a. they are themselves to breaking
away from the traditional foreign
policy of the United States. Also
they regard him as too good a poll
tician not to see the pitfalls which
would lie before him If he should
pursue such q course.
The opponents of the league, how
ever. say they are not unmindful of
the efforts to revive the league of ma
0tr HhA I@R1 -
champion. Gov. Cox. at the polls
They feel sure that test of strength
is coming. But the irreconcilables
view their position today as vastly
stronger than ever before. They
maintain they are upholding the YER
dict of the people. rendered at the
polls. The charge they make is that
the league idea is fostered by the
international bankers and that
latest moves for the league are be-
ing made by the same interests as
during the fight in the Senate over
the peace treaty and at the repubH-
can national convention
Had Way at Chicago.
Out in Chicago the advocates of the
league-with reservations, of course
had their plank already drafted for
the republican platform. The late
Murray Crane of Massachusetts,, one
of the pro-leaguers. was frankly told
publican resolutions committee brought
out such a plank, and the convention
adopted it, they would Immediately
walk out of the republican convention.
And Mr.. Crane replied they might do
SO if they liked: they were not so
many.
Try it and see how many" was the
answer of the irreconcilables.
1t is a matter of history now that
the irreconcilables had their way. and
framed the republican treaty plank.
The threatened break in republican
ranks was avoided.
II they held the whip hand then.
how much more likely are the irrecon.
cilables to prevail now that the peo-
pie have turned down emphatically
the candidate supporting the league.
Also they look for an increase in
their ranks when the newly elected re-
publican senators take their places March
Cameron Of Arizona, Gooding Of Idaho,
Shortridge of California, HarreId of
Oklahoma, are all reckoned irreconcila-
bles. as well as others, and are ex-
pected to join johnson of California,
Borah of Idaho. Moses of New Hamp-
shire. Brandegee of Connecticut, Poin-
dexter of Washington, Mccormick of
Illinois and the other republican oppo-
nents of a league. Recruits from dem
orTatic ranks of the Senate are looked
for If the republican administration
seeks to put through any "camouhaged
league Of nations plan"
The irreconcilables are not. of course,
averse to world peace, but they do not
believe it can be obtained through
league based upon political alliances.
They are not putting forward, at present,
any program for maintaining peace
other than that the United States shall
be free to throw its influence for peace
as it sees dt 1t is known, however,
,hat the irreconcilables would go as far
as the establishment Of a world court, to
which nations might submit volunta-
rity their differences. relying upon the
public opinion OF the world to support
The decisions Of the court