The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-07-07
H JOHNSON
BACKSG.O.P.
As WINNER
Senator Announces His Sup
port OF Republican Poll
cieS in Campaign

SAN FRANCISCO. July g.
Declaring that the 'cvcrshsdcw~
Ing question In the campaign h
whether we shall enter the msel
strom Of European and Asiafic
politics and diplomacy
or whether America shall live
her own life In her own way.
with independence unfcstcrct."
senator Hiram johnson today
announced he would support the
republican party.
In his statement. which does not
mention Senator Warren q. Harding
by name. he compares tho republican
and democratic platforms. pointing
out that the republican party stands
FIRMLY against the presidents cove
breeding war rather than peace"
while tho democratic platform ~in-
dorsci the presidents attitude and
took its position in favor of the
league as presented
His conclusion Is;
with a candidate standing four
square upon the platform. the issue
leaves those who believe In safe.
guarding. protecting and preserving
our Amcricanism bu tone choice.
and that 10 10 support the republican
party.
johnson makes no reference 90 the
republican convention other than 10
discuss its platform. In his firs,
statement after the Chicago convcn,
ton. made in Sacramento, johnson
said the day would come when the
people shall prevail. rather than a
few international bankers sitting In
conference IN Chicago
johnson. until today. had not indl
Gated whether he would support tho
republican candidate for president.
Senator Johnson's statement fol-
lows.
For more than q year the contest
over the presidents league Of ma,
tons has been waxed In congress.
II has been the aii-engrossing and
paramount issue OF necessity this
issue came to the conventions Of the
TWO great parties
Both the republicans and demo
Gratis. In their platforms. have in.
dulxed In the usual political yer.
bosity. but. nevertheless. those plat.
forms in direct opposition 10 each
other. sharply define and clearly pre-
sent the question for decision In the
November election. Tho republicans
were asked to insert IN their plat
form . plank presented by Murray
v. Crane. Of Massachusetts and the
League TO Enforce Peace. declaring
Tor the presidents covenant OF the
hague Of nations with proper rcser.
'<aconA EmphAticaiiy this was re
5ected-
WHAT REPUBLICANS
LINK or COVENANT
In its stsad. the republican party
declared that the presidents cove !
nAnt failed signaiiy to accomplish |
IT. asserted purpose. and contained |
stipulations not only intoierabie for
an independent people. but certain
70 produce the injustice. hostility and
controversy among nations which II
proposed to prevent and repudated
20 degree wholly unnecessary and
un1ustifiabIe. the time honorcd poll.
cies in favor Of peace declared by
Washington. jefferson and Monroe.
The republican party stands.
therefore. firmly against the prcsi-
dents covenant as presented. de
nounces II as breeding war rather
than promoting peace. and resoirms
the time honored. nation-oid policies
Of Washington, Jefferson and Mon.
roe.
The democratic party. on the
al kax al
modify or qualify the presidents
proposed league OF nations. Endorsed
the presidents attitude and took Its
position In favor OF the league as
presented IL IL true that the Demo
Gratis. in efforts to plaeate. say some
thing about reservations which might
make clearer or more specific the
obligations Of the United States. but
the language Is meaningless and does
not at all alter the essential position
Of the democratic party for the
league as presented
The two parties acted IN similar
fashion in one respect. but from diff
ferent motives and for different rea,
sons Both rejected the plea for
adoption OF the league with rescrva.
tons. the democrats because they
were for the league as presented and
because. in their view, the reserva.
0ons destroyed IL. and the republi-
cans because they were against the
league as presented and because no
reservations devised by the human
mind could anticipate the oontngen.
cies which might arise in the future
from an instrument Of such potential
possibilities for harm.
THUS the issue finally comes from
NE forum Of congress to the final ar.
bitrament Of the American people
The overshadowing question IN the
campaign therefore is whether we
enter the mseistrorn Of European and
Asiatic politics and diplomacy and be-
come a part OF the cynical imperial
ism of the old world. or whether
America shall live her life in her own
way, with Independence unfetfered
mindful always Of her obligations 10
humanity and civilization. but free
10 act az each crisis shall arise. and
maintaining always the policy OF
Washington. and Jefferson. and Mon
roe. OF friendship with all nations. en-.
tangling alliances with none.
with candidate standing four.
square upon the platform, the issue
leaves those who believe In safe
guarding. protecting and preserving
our Amerfcanism but one choice, and
that is to support the republican
party"
IA-Is