The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-23

/ doesn't speak OF Senator Harding'i
ability as a statesman, or hts progress
siveism. He merely Is glad that tn,
candidate Is four-square against ths
league of nations and he expresses
openly his admiration for Gov. Cox IN
standing square for the league.
The writer saw the republican state
convention render enthusiastic homage
to Hiram Johnson, heard the distin-
guished senator speak and there wat
not man In the room who believed
that Senator Harding and Senator john
son ever had or ever will have any diff
ferences on the matter OF the league oil
nations.
The people Of California know John
son is In earnest and working for re-
publican victory.
Working Hard This Time.
He Is working hard this time. and his
heart Is In the fight because he believes
Senator Harding means to stay out of
the league and accept the viewpoint
which the California senator expressed
in the senate last session.
For no matter what one may think OF
Senator Johnson's views on the league
of nations II was he who started the
hight In the senate, and he who kept
the republican party at Chicago from
indorslng the league with the Lodge
reservations.
He feels now that Senator Harding
group In every speech. He takes only
Senator Hardhg's public speeches
There Is a rumor afioat that Senator
Johnson has In his pocket letter from
senator Harding saying in effect:
You have interpreted my position cor
possesses such document, is not us
Ing It. He merely takes the Harding
speeches and ignores all references to
a possible use Of the league Of nations
machinery. He insists that Senator
Harding liar ana has Ss,,, strapped the entire
California senator does not hesitate TO
go the length and breadth OF the land
campaigning for the republican ticket.
Other Side OF Question.
Now, on the otner sire Of the ques-
tion, men like Taft. Toover, Hughes,
Root, .Wickersham and President Low
Harding will be all right on the issue
after the election is won. Conferences
are to take place In New York this
week when Elihu Root returns from
Europe Unquestionably there will be
back to the league, or at least to the
position he took in the senate when he
voted for the league reservations. but
II he does-well, there win be a certain
senator. from the state of California
whose heart will go further into the
grave than that OF William Jennings
Bryan.
As to political effects, this state can
be carried by Senator johnson by sheer
force of his personal appeal. II Sena-
tor Harding should do the unexpected
desert Johnson--there. would
surely be trouble In this state for the
republican party. For the vets are
rather favorably inclined to Gov. Cox,
anyway, and II sections OF northern
California, like San Francisco, find that
and Cox are both for the
league with reservations, other issues
votes.
No Change Expected.
But no one seriously expects any1
change in the Harding position on the
league. Senator. Johnson has inter-
tudo so authoritativeiy as far as the
people of this part Of the state are
concerned that they would be amazed
and astonished to hear anything to the
contrary from Senator Harding.
The state capitol here was an inter-
esting place to visit. For after sena-
tor Johnson addressed the republican
Samuel Shortridge, candi-
date for United States senator. made a
lengthy speech mostly, against Wilson
ism. to which he said he had been
consistently opposed ever since the
Wilson tariff bill of 1898" After the
speech was over I heard many a per-
son express wonder whether Mr.. Short |
ridge really believed Wilson was re-
sponsible for the Wilson tariff law of
1893. Still the anti-Wilson crusade |
which the republicans are making in
,ludes most everything wilsonlan any
way.
Three other state conventions. by the |
way, were going on In the state capt. !
-ol. The prohibitionists and the demo- !
Gratis met at opposite ends Of the build