The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1920-07-15
NO LOOPHOLE FOR HARDING

Senator IIarding's declaration that President
Wilson's only is vindication OF MS Ioreish
policy and insists making that the issue re-
CARELESS of the costs consequences" can easily
be met by replying that the sole object of the Re-
publican Senate cabal to defeat President VIII
son and destroy him politically even though 1t
brought stain the national honor of America
and repudiaed every principle for which we fought.
The League question is not going to be decldeu
upon personalities but upon principles. The plank
referring the League adopted by the Democratic
National Convention makes this certain. 1t leaves
no loophoe for evasion. And Mr.. Harding will have
to forget politics and talk policies before the cam
paign is settled. He will be forced to do that
which the Republican National Convention refused
to do, say exactly where he stands on the ques-
ton of the League Nations. Not some vague
and indefinite world court of arbitration but on
the League of Nations established by the Treaty of
Versailles, which is now in effect and which has
been underwritten by twenty-nine national govern
who today members
Several of definite action are open to
him. He say whether not he is against it
it stands written. He can say whether he favors
it modified Cor nufied) by the Lodge reserva-
lions. A further may be taken by saying
that he stands with the Battalion of Death Senators
who made it possible to pass the Lodge reservations
and then voted against the ratification of the treaty
after they had been tackled He can also declare
whether not he is still in favor of separate peace
with Germany, which position he took when he
voted for the Knox resolution for peace.
The plank adopted by the Democrats at San
Francisco clarifies the atmosphere considerably 1t
refutes completely the widely circulated and men
dacious charges that President Wilson stands for
ratification without any alteration in form sub
stance and demands immediate ratification of the
treaty without reservations that would impair its
essential integrity but specifically stating that it
accepts reservations making clearer speci-
fic the obligations of the United States to the
League associates" This is directly opposite to the
effect that would have resulted from the ratification
of the treaty with the Lodge reservations.
Answering in no uncertain terms the Republican
accusation that the League Covenant invades the
sovereignty of the United States, the Democratic
plank declares
I'VE reject erly vain, if vicious, the
Republican assumption that ratification of the
treaty and membership in the League of Nations
would in any way impair the integrity ndepend-
ence of country. The fact that the covenant
has been entered into by twenty-n nations, all
as jealous of their independence of ours,
is a sufficient refuation of such charge The Pres
dent repeatedly has declared, and this convention
affirms, that all our duties and obligations
member of the League must be fulfilled in strict
conformity with the Constitution the United
States, embodied in which is the requirement of
declaratory action by Congress before this nation
become participant in any war"
Senator Hardings platitudes about the Presi-
dents concern for vindcaton of his foreign policy
too weak to stand up before intelligent voters
1t will take more than attacks the President to
win him The country wants to know now
and will ask continually throughout the summers
campaign what the Republican foreign policy is
The Republican platform contains none. an
avowed purpose declaring war on Mexico What
the platform does not provide Mr.. Harding will be
forced to supply. and substitution of vfication
of President Wilson will fail satisfy the American
people. The question now is and will be until it
is definitely answered, Where Republican NOM
inee for President of the United States, does War
rem G. Harding stand on the League of Nations?