The Washington herald., 1920-11-18
BITTER ENDERS
FIGHT LEAGUE
FOR KNOCKOUT
No Compromise Favoring
Pact Like Wilson Wants,
Irreconcilables Say.
HOLD STRONG CARDS
Attack to Be Made at Short
Session to Strengthen
Antagonism.
BY ROBERT BARRY.


Republican irreconcilables an
swered yesterday the question now
agitating party councils mpst inter-
ested In the foreign policies to be
advocated by President Har-
dingi
How far will the bitter-enders go
along with Harding in the matter of
his proposed assocition of nationsr'
Their reply is:
Never so far as to have the
United States become a member of
such a political assembly or world
parliamentary group as now is as
sembled at Geneva"
That is the negative side of their
position. They appear ready to sup
port Mr.. Harding In any effort to
bring about a recodification of inter-
national law. a broadening and
Strengthening of the arbitration
features of. The Hague tribunal and
the establishment of a world court
of Justice, where disputes between
nations would be decided on basis OF
written law.
Lines Formed for Battle.
The lines of the irreconcilables
are the. first to form for the new
battle over Americas participation
insnternational counsels. They pro-
pose to fight any step by Mr.. Hard
ing toward having the United States
enter into written political alliances
with European or Asiatic powers
They contend that in assuming that
position they are adhering to the
policy outlined in the Senate resolu-
tion drawn by Senator rhilander C
Knox of Pennsylvania, much OF
which found expression in the plat
form adopted by the Republican ma
tional convention at Chicago. They
hold that Mr.. Harding himself has
Endorsed II. They contend that Elihu
Root held the absence of the things
they are willing to support consti-
tuted the fundamental weak ness oi
the covenant or Versailles, even
whfie ne. way ufRfng that Amerfcs
go into the league.
The irreconcilables do not propose
mat the views of William II. Taft
INOOts w. wicker
sham or Charles Evans Hughes shall
prevail In the councils of the Re.
publican party without a bitter
struggle. They had their way II
the Senate when the treaty failed
of ratification due to alliance of VIII.
son followers with the irreconcil.
ables; they were successful at Chi.
cago where they prevented incorpor.
alton in the platform of a ratifica.
tion plank: the ybelieve they/forcet
Mr.. Harding to abandon the course
represented. by his votes in the Sen.
ate, and they regard the outcome
OF the solemn referendum" a crush.
ing reputation of the league.
Prepare for Attack.
They do not propose to sarrifice
their advantageous position withou,
the hottest kind Of fight. Although
other leaders In the party may de.
fer action until the Inauguration oi
Harding, the bitter-end cult viii
use the time of the short Congress
sional session beginning in abou,
two weeks to attack the treat,
proper, and the principle of Mt
league of nations, so as to estab.
lish. IL possible, a popular followins
in antagonism to any move by tht
new President for American mem.
bership in a league built upon the
theory of a political forum sucha a,
the assembly. Of the league of ma
tions, now holding its organization
meeting.
With a total of twenty-three ir,
reconcilables at the outset of tn,
discussion by the new Senate, tn,
titter-enders do not regard thei,
task of rolling up the necessar,
thirty-four votes to block Hard.
ing league" or Association" an,
more difficult than the feat the,
achieved in November and in March
when ratification was blocked.
Copyright. 1920. by Public Ledger Coz