Arizona republican., 1920-06-19
HARDING TAKES
 UP CHALLEN GE
 ON PACT ISSUE
Would Gladly Welcome" Referendum On Foreign Relations Questions, He Says, In Reply to Wilson Statement-G. O. P. Fac tions Declare Loyalty.
IRepubIican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON, June 1S-Senator Harding, the Republican presidential nominee, today answered President Wilson's challenge to make the peace treaty the dominant issue in the com ing campaign with a statement that the Republican party would gladly welcome a. referendum on the question of the foreign relationship of this re- public"
 The Republican candidate :n further replying to the presidents declara- tions as contained in an interview pub lished today, expressed confidence that "the Republican attitude of pre- served nationality will be overwhelm- ingly endorsed
 Hoover Comes Out For Harding
 Mir. Hardings assertions, made to newspaper men at his daily confer ence, were closely followed by state ment by Herbert Hoover, one of the senator's rivals for the nomination, en- dorsing the choice of the Chicago con vention and urging all Republicans to support the national ticket.
 Mir. Hoover issued his statement after a breakfast conference with Sen ator Harding, arranged by the latter. The conference, it was explained, was part of the Republican nominees gen eral plan of meeting party leaders to learn their views and bring together into a harmonious organization the various party groups.
 The former food administrator, in his statement, said the Republican plat form for the most part was construc- tive and progressive and the com promise blanks on the treaty and labor as we'll as on a number of other sub jects were susceptible to a forward looking interpretation"
 Some issues including reOrganiza- ton of election expenditures and the primaries. he added, were not ade- quately dealt with but the develop ment of several party organizations built upon several individual view points would be disastrous.
 Governor Sprouf of Pennsylvania. who was one of the candidates for the Republican nomination. in a letter re- ceived today congratulated Senator Harding and assured him of his sup port in the campaign.
 Tt is needless to tell you.'' Governor Sproul wrote. that I am pleased with the whole situation and that you will have my devoted services in any way in which they may be useful"
 Wood Backers Declare Loyalty"
 A similar letter also was received from Franklin MacNeagh, former sec retary of the treasury. who asked the senator to accept the hearty and loyal good wishes of a beaten Wood man."
 My guess is" said MT. MacVeagh "that your attitude in the campaign from the beginning will show that progressives of the Wood stripe arc easily included in your political sym pathies and that as candidate-and subsequently,, as president you will stand as a progressive conservative which is as near as need be to the re- sultant of the opposing tendencies ot the party"
 Representative Smith of Idaho. wh- discussed reclamation with MT. Hard f0dav said after his visit thai Senator Harding spoke enthusias- ticalIy of the development of land and he is very much in favor of it.
 For the first time since last Monday Senator Harding broke the spell oi work and went to the golf links where he played a round with Senator FL kins, representative of West Virginia and F. F. Scobey of San Antonio Texas. and R. B. Creager of Browns vile, Texas.