Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-29
FEARU.S. YET MAY
Be DRAGGED INTO
LEAGUE Of NATIONS
lrreconciIabIe Republicans
Look Askance on Work
of EIihu Root.

Republican irreconciable opponents
of the league of nations are fearful
that the United States may be
by the back door" They fear that
this may be the result of the work
of Elihu Root. former Secretary of
State, who has just returned from
Europe. where he has been at work
aiding to mold the international
court in connection with the league
of nations. Republican victory at the
polls may be in vain, from their point
OF view, II the country is to enter
the league eventually.
Senator's Dlsqufeted.
Senator Hiram Johnson of California
and Senator Borah Of Idaho, who have
been leaders in the fight against the
United States entering any league of
nations based upon political under
standings with other nations. it be-
came known today are disquieted.
They had in past weeks announced
themselves satisfied with the stand
taken by Senator Harding, the repub-
fican nominee for President, on the
league OF nations issue.
But the recent statements of Senator
Harding upon the league of nations,
which Gov. Cox, the democratic
nominee, has characterized as in
definite and contradictory when taken
in connection with previous state
ments by the republican standard
allay the fears of the irreconcilable
leaders in the fight against the treaty.
Want to BE shown.
This indefinitene taken in connec-
ton with the activities of former SEN
ator Root. has caused apprehension
among the irreconcilables. They want
to be shown. In the meantime it was
learned that a digest of the Root
plan for an international tribunal has
been laid before them and they will
look into it carefully.
There is suspicion on the part
of some of thee leaders that Gov.
Coolidge of Massachusetts,. the repub-
lican nominee for Vice President. is
really pro-leaguer. His utterances
in regard to the league are being
carefully scanned.
The republican leaders have been
congratulating themselves for MANY
weeks that the party is more solidly
Should there be lukewarmness for the
ticket on the part of any of the ir-
reconcilables during the final month
OF the campaign, or a tendency to
stand apart. it might result in diff
culties for the republicans which the
national committee had not anticf-
pated.
Would Delight Democrats.
That the democrats would hail with
delight any split at this date among
their opponents is obvious 1t is what
they have hoped for ever since the
republican national convention in Chi
cago. when Senator Harding was
nominated and Senator johnson was
defeated. The democrats were de-
pressed when Senator johnson and
Senator Borah announced they would
support the republican ticket. and
| later got into the campaign.
When, on Monday night, Senator
Harding was "heckled" in Baltimore
| and asked to say whether he stood
ping the league of nations, the re-
| publican nominee replied that if he
believed in one-man government he
could reply. He said further that he
| had no constructive program regard
| ing an association of nations. but that
| he was against going into the league
negotiated by President Wilson.
| 1t is feared by opponents of the
league that the republican candida te
! is weakening his position with replies
| lacking defniteness. They point ont
| that to say merely that he is opposed
to the Wilson league is to Law him
self open to a charge Of partisanship
that will not help him. They believe
! there is great vote in this country
opposed to the entry of the United
States into any league of nations.
| They do not oppose the formation
of a judicial tribunal to which the
nations may voluntarily present such
questions as they desire for settle
ment. But they are bitterly opposed
based upon political alliances of any
| kind with foreign nations