New-York tribune., 1920-07-25
Hirarn's Pleasure

L
Senator Johnson sees fit to de-
.l,re that he is highly pleased with
Senator Hardings words concern
INC the league. He says Mr.. Harding
!, ato be congratulated on his firm
1 md emphatic declaration against
the proposed league
Senator Johnson was prepared,
one NAV almost say determined, to
Re pleased. He does not regard this
\ year as a good one for bolting, and
mide dictated that he do all in his
rover to present the Republican
candidate as adopting his views,
though the candidate does nothing
Of the sort. Senator Johnson's wish
is father to his thought, and he is
eager to magnify anything in the
Harding speech that can be tortured
as anti-league.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Harding's rec
ord shows that he voted twice for
ratification and entry of this coun-
Try into the league, while Senator
Johnson voted twice in a precisely
contrary way. And the most diligent
scrutiny of the acceptance speech
fails to reveal a passage wherein a
change of mind is announced. Pre-
sumably Messrs. Harding and John
son are still on opposite sides of
the fence. A strong effort is being
made in Democratic circles to create
for partisan reasons, the impression
that t-Senator Harding has become an
anti-leaguer, and it suits Senator
Johnson to foster this view, but
neither of these things makes ii
so, and it is improbable the public
will be deceived.
But why, it may be asked, did not
Senator Harding reiterate that which
he said over and over again in the
Senate? One reason may be that he
considered such a reiteration un-
necessary. Another possible reason
is that he realized, as a man Of COM
mon sense, that no one could predict
what would be the situation should
the covenant again come before the
Senate.
In all probability the Democrats
will control at least one-third of the
next Senate, and an affirmative two
thirds is still necessary to ratify a
treaty. The settlement, if one is
arrived at, must be a partisan
one. This is an immovable fact, anC
Senator Harding is perhaps un-
Wiling to promise to do that which
he knows that he and his party can
not alone do. One reason for the il
late OF the treaty has been the
residents partisanship. Senator
Harding may we'll avoid initiating
him.
Moreover, international conditions
are constantly changing. Soon the
consensus of world opinion may be
Nat 1t Is wise to fashion a different
sOft Of league from the one whose
nat adoption President Wilson in.
'0lerantly demanded. 1t may be
mat it will be seen that it is in
ulSpensable to self-protection to have
ah open defensive alliance among
Ae ilye powers which won the war
No one who values his respect fol
.ahdor will claim to know exactly
NOW events will shape themselves
snd II sincere, a public man will be
aVerSe to committing himself pre-
eiSely long in advance of the time
OF action.
a fundamental fault of the Presi
vents course is that he prepared {
.'Aeme and then sought to jam i
through without allowing opportu
.''y Tor consideration and change
senator Harding may we'll studious
avoid this error and refuse tt
'Scome an advocate of frozen for
"'uia- tie stands opposed to The
'upefman idea and would have rea
consultation. But this by no mean:
implies ., that he repudiates altogether
'''e covenant, or that he would op
pVse Its ratification even though
.s,a'eguarded by reservations saving
S'e treaty powers of the Senate ant
s4ssefving liberty of national action