New-York tribune., 1920-06-10
William Howard Taft
discusses
The Treaty Plank

to abide by their attitude as its future
policy. They, having so voted, should
have nothing to apologize for; neither
should the party in their behalf.
The Republicans who would have
preferred to have the treaty without
reservations were not in the majority
of the party and have accepted the
course of the thirty-hve Republican
Senators. Why now attempt to becloud
the position which these Senators
should be willing clearly to take, when
they Will be driven to sustain it in the
campaign by the opposition of Mr..
Johnson and Mr.. Borah?
Rumblings from Mr.. Borah indicat ting
bolt are not to be taken so seriously
as explicit statements by Mr.. johnson
IN respect to the platform. Mr.. Borah
has been threatening to bolt on this
subject for q year. Unfortunately for
him. he has thundered in the index so
much on other subjects, notably in his
opposition to Senator Penrose. that
many are inclined to take what he says
as only for present use and in a Pick
wlcklan sense.
One may conjecture that Mr. Borah
would be subject to much embarrass
ment if Senator Johnson were to bolt
tins issue, and he were called upon
to follow. It is doubtful what he will
do In respect to Senator johnson, q
defeat on the subject of the reserva-
tions would certainly presage defeat
of his nomination in the convention
which indeed has never been at ali
probable. 1t is quite possible that
strategically he would prefer to bolt
the platform rather than await his per
sonal defeat as a candidate
Hearst for Third Party
Mr.. Hearst has been most formid-
able supporter of Mr. Johnson. Mr.
Brisbane's article of yesterday fore
shadows Mr.. Hearst's eagerness that
Mr.. johnson run as an Independent,
candidate. That Mr.. Johnson would
secure a very large number of votes
that he would unite the Sim Feiners
the pro-Germans. the more radical la
Dor men and all the vociferous ele-
ments of unrest, goes without saying
and Mr.. Hearst would enter upon the
johnson would be defeated and would
elect the Republican candidate.
Inferences from Senator Lodges
speech that he favors a platform de-
claratlon, which, to use Senator John
sons expression, pussY-footed as be-
tween the thirty-hve Senators and the
fourteen, do him an injustice. if, as
now reported, he is in favor Of firmly
standing up to the course of the thirty
five. 1t may be that in keynote
speech he felt it inappropriate for
him as chairman to be a special advo-
cate of his own course.
1t would seem now to be the wisest
course of the party to choose the
ground for the battle by an explicit
declaration of vote of confidence in
the action of the Republican Senate
majority. Then let Mr.. Johnson and
Mr.. Borah yield to the party majority
both in the Senate and convention, or
withdraw. 1t is question of principle
and the party should meet it.
To make a declaration so vague
that Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. Borah may
give it strained construction to suit
their plainly hostile view and avoid
recourse to bolt will not help mat
ters. 1t will merely carry the fight
into the campaign with all the confu-
sion incident to uncertainty of leader
ship and with the possible party fate
of falling between two stools.