The Washington herald., 1920-10-11


in the last Senate. They hold that he has def-
nitcy repudiated any interest in any sort OF an in
ternstional agreement for the maintenance OF peace;
that he has rebufed and outraged such supporters
as Taft, Wickersham and Hoover; that he is pre-
pared for separate peace with Germany, the aban-
donment of the ideals with which this nation en-
tered the war and the adoption OF purely selfish
policy of national isolation.
Democrats holding this opinion base it upon
this phrase in the Des Moines speech:
81 oppose the proposed league, not because
fail to understand what a former member OF the
Democratic administration said we being let
in for,' but because l understand precisely what
are being let in ior
I do not want to clarity these obligations; l
want to turn my back them. 1t is not interpre
taton but rejection l seeking"
Because OF this statement which standing alone
has significance OF which its context depriveS it,
the supporters OF Cox insist that Senator Harding
has shifted his position, and that sincere advo-
cate OF international association ior the main
tcnance OF peace can longer support him. Moved
by this argument which proceeds wholly from the
focs OF the Republican party, Mr.. Herbert Parsons
long a leader in Republican ranks in New York.
has announced his purpose OF antagonizing the
Harding ticket 1t IS not improbable that other
impetuous souls, too exctable to look into the
facts for themselves, will follow this example
1t is probable that will be more aston
ishcd the hullabaloo raised over this utterance
than Senator Harding himself. He will hold, very
properly that lie said nothing at Des Moines
which he has not said repeatedly before. Perhaps
It a little epigrammatic, but that is all.
At time, either in the Senate, or on his ia
nous front porch since his nomination, has he
evinced any desire to enter the Wilson league. His
Senatorial vote for the rejection OF Article y
and the substitution OF a wholly different declara-
ton There is reason for amazement now be-
cause he said at Des Moines My position is that
THE league strikes a deadly blow at our constitu-
uonal integrity, and surrenders to dangerous
tent our independence OF action" That he has said
before, and in the Senate emphasized his conviction
with his vote.
1t is impossible to doubt that the sudden camor
raised because, in this speech, Senator Harding
cnunciated convictions which, from him, have be-
come commonplace, Is only a part OF the we'll
matured Democratic plan to force the league issue
noisily to the front. Only by doing that Demo
Gratis hope to obscure the real issue which they
lace defeat-namey, the publicaestimatc put upon
the Wilson administration.
Does Senator Hardings position, as enunciated
in this address, make it incumbent upon those who
pledged to the establishment OF league of
nations Tor the maintenance of peace to withdraw
f5om him their support:
Not at all The very best reason ior the con-
tinuance OF their support is to be found in para
graph further down in the speech which those who
are trying to force the Wilson league upon the
nation found it convenient to ignore Therein
Senator Harding said
AS soon as possible after NV election
shall advise with the best minds in the United
States, and especially shall consult in advance
with the Senate, with whom, by the terms OF
the Constitution, shall indeed be bound to
counsel and without whose consent no such in
ternstonal association be formed | shall
do this to the end that shall have an asso-
citation OF nations for the promotion OF inter
national peace but one which shall so definitely
safeguard our sovereignty and recognize our
ultimate and unmortgaged freedom of action
that it will have back OF it not divided and
distracted sentiment, but the united support of
the American people. Without such united sup
port no plan can be made fully or permanently
successful"
That is the attitude which from the first the
friends of international action have understood
Senator Harding to maintain. 1t has never been
expected of him that he would lead the country
into the Wilson league Many of the sincerest
friends OF international association denounce that
covenant vigorously as do Borah and Tohn-
themselves. They believe, with Senator Hard
ing, that certain clauses of the Versailles covenant
are better rejected than amended. But they do de-
mand immediate action the part of the Presi-
dent, in association with the Senate to formulate
and propose form of international agreement to
which the United States rightly be party
This action Senator Harding has specifically prom
ised to take
The Senator might possibly have stated his posi-
ton in way that would have given his watchful
opponents less plausible peg on which to hang
their net OF Misrepresentation. But when they in
sist that he has betrayed the confidence reposed in
him by Taft, Root Wickersham and Others they
merely enunciate falsehood When they say he
has "scrapped THE league" they tell the literal
truth.