South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-31

tLOsN ~ o. Eli KUN FANE IN r }
senate has in no way established a
record as % why 10 refused the
treaty or what kind OF a treaty IL
would ratify. Ia the opinion Of
many observers. the senate will be
compelled 20 call on the president by
resolution 10 formulate a treaty Of
peace with Germany and the senate
has no way 90 dictate the terms OF
that treaty or to prevent the re-
submission o. the treaty Of Yer
sailles.
The republican party does not
dare enter the campaign Ou the is
sue presented by the failure 90 rati-
~ the treaty for the reason tina,
sen. Johnson and his crowd Of cir
reconcilables' are taking the posi-
lion that the treaty was not ratified
because the republican party is
against the League of Nations. They
declare their intentions of asking
the Chicago convention 90 endorse
their action iu defeating the League
Of Nations covenant They viii say
the Lodge reservations were but an
other means 90 the same end. which
will arrogate themselves TO resort
To the reservation subterfuge
johnson Should BE Candidate.
If this plan IS carried out the re-
publican convention must either go
on record AS against the League OF
Nations or rcpudiate the action of
the republican senate in failing TO
ratify the treaty.
II 10 accepts the Johnson stand
against the League OF Nations, then
Johnson. who fought 90 Kill the
league covenant Is the logical lead
er Of the republican party for the
1920 campaign and failure to
nominate him will be equivalent to
declaring approval of his plat
form and Tepudiating him as a can
didate. Such an action will ALLEVIATE
the entire bull moose element OF the
republican party.
Reputation of Johnson's anti
league stand and the placing Of the
republican party on record as APP
proving the League Of Nations with
reservations" means Reputation of
the senate which finally refused TO
Tatify the treaty in any form.
If the republican convention were
20 be held today, il would certainly
be up against it,
tions would mean ruin for II. To
indorse Johnson's stand would be-
TO condemn the league. To fail to
condemn the league and indorse
JOhnsOn's attitude would be 90 re-
pudiate the action OF the senate I'm
returning the treaty to the presi-
dent.
Republican Position Bad.
Ii IS the consensus of opinion
here that the time has not yet come
for the president to take stand for
this campaign. The peace treaty
has not yet been disposed of. nor
has the republican party yet reach
ed a point where it may 90 on rec
ord on the question.
Pres't Wilson viii hardly be led
into a trap where the republican
senate can recall the treaty. ratify
IL in some manner that would APP
pear to coincide with his demands
for ratification. and thereby save its
dirty face
As the record stands L republl-
cans are irreconcilably against the
League of Nations and 81 hypocrit-
icalIy in favor OF some kind of a
league" with four democrats ire
cOnCilably opposed. u ~anElewOrm-
ishly' favorable. % for the league
exactly as IL stands. with none of
the republican monkey work. The
tail. the minority. in both parties. so
far as their appearance in the SEN
ate is concerned, seems pretty GER
tain 20 wag the dog. when it comes
To the national convention, and it IS
the republican rather than the dem
ocrats here who are worried by the
presidents failure TO keep up the
uarfeX