The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-05-13
voters To FIGHT
OUT TREATY ISSUE
IN Nov ELECTION
Wilson Plan or Lodge Reser-
vations, Question Ballots to
Decide-Taft Attacks Pres
ident tor Appeal.
BY ROBERT j. BENDER.
United News Staff CORRESPONDENT


New York. May 11.-Wilson vs..
Lodge; a League of Nations much as
the president has presented it. or a
league with h Lodge reservations
that ID the clear cut issue which,
1t appears o the people will decide
at the polls.
2 For the democratic convention in
a Francisco is not expected to vio-
late precedent and fepudiate the
leadership of their executive for eight
years by adopting an attitude toward
the league repugnant to Wilson.
And the republicans in Chicago,
/ am told definitely, will place a
plank in their platform that viii
square with the positions taken by
Senator Lodge and a majority of the
republican senators throughout the
treaty fight.
Wilson'S Influence important.
While neither Wilson nor Lodge will
likely to be nominee of their respec-
tive parties, Wilson'S influence is ex-
pected to have a most important
bearing upon the man the democrats
select. And the republican nominee
Will be a man, it is generally be-
lieved, whose attitude has been sim
liar to that of the Lodge following in
the Senate.
The presidents stand for the treaty
and League as contracted in VersaiI-
les and approved by allied powers,
came as a surprise and something of
a shock in some republican quarters.
1t was felt by the leaders with whom
l talked that the party cannot ac-
cept the negative end of a League or
no League" issue, but rather must go
to the polls sponsoring a Lodge lea
que as opposed to a Wilson league.
In this event, they say thought of
nominating Senator johnson or Sena-
tor knoX must necessarily slump
some n the stocks of General Wood,
Governor Lowden and other candi-
dates favoring a league, might well
be regarded as having gone up some
more.
What johnson Men Contend.
Supporters of Senator johnson
held that the presidents course open
ed the way for the one thing john
son has stood for in h treaty fight:
namely, that the people should be
permitted to pass on the league ques-
ton definitely before it finally is
settled
But the TASTES of the president,
nevertheless, seemed to disturb them
some despite their assurances. John
son leaders admitted many business
men felt the senator's attitude was
not for the best interests of business
and for hat reason they were urging
Johnson to make some speeches be-
fore business organizations. Also
reports from the strongly pro-1eague
state of Oregon, where statewide
primaries are to be held May 81 on
Johnson, Wood and Hoover, have
proved somewhat disquieting to the
Johnson camp.
johnson May Go to Oregon
1t was said today hat the senator
might take a flying trip to Oregon
because the fight there was admit
tedly running rather strongly in fa-
vor of Hoover or Wood rather than
Johnson. With the president max
ing the issue or the League /: sharp
one in Oregon, just before the pri-
maries there, Johnson's supporters
are increasingly anxious hat he win
the contest. To lose it, under the
circumstances, might be regarded
with considerable significance by the
party leaders, they admit.
Meantime Senator Penrose called a
number of his lieutenants to Philadel-
phia for a conference today. following
the presidents appeal. The Wilson
letter was regarded here as having
more of the Wilson punch in it than
has marked his efforts since his ILL
ness. And republican leaders said to-
day that since the president is no
mean antagonist when he's going
good, they must watch their step a
little more carefully now lest he put
something by them.
-