The Washington herald., 1920-01-24
TAFT ASSERTS
/. His HAT IS NOT
I'm THE RING
Declares He Will Make No
| Effort to Be G. o. P.
Standard Bearer.
CONSULTS HARDING
.-l
C0NSULTS HARDING
Hopeful of Treaty Rati6ca-
tion After Talk With
Mild" Senator's.

Il am not an aspirant for the
Presidential nomination. / will In
no way seek the nomination, and the
sooner my friends get the idea out
OF their heads the better" former
President william Howard Taft told
TIE Washington Herald last night.
Asked II he were aware that his
nams was again being mentioned as
. possible candidate. the ex-Presi-
ldent. who was in Washington to de-
liver an address before the National
Geographic Society. shaking with
laughter. replied, That's a very
coed joke"
Mr.. Taft arrived in Washington
yesterday morning. and went imme-
diately to the Capitol. where he con-
ferred with a number of Senators
prominent In the treaty contro-
versy. The ex-President urged the
Senators whom he saw to exert
every possible effort in getting the
Versailles treaty to a point where
II can be ratified with the least pos
sible further delay. The people OF
the country are growing restive.
The delay In the Senate must cease
and the treaty must be ratified. Com
promise IL possible. but ratify the
treaty In some form" This is said to
be the purport of Mr.. Tafts advice
to certain Republican Senators with
whom he conferred.
Cenfer. with Harding.
The former President WAS closeted
for nearly an hour with Senator
Harding. who is In the race for the
Republican nomination. Mr.. Taft's
sympathies arc known TO lie with
Senator Harding in the Presidential
race. This Is considered to be the
natural consequence of the fact that
both men hail from the Buckeye
State and have for years been closely
associated.
Both men agree In the main on
party policies. and both had their
early : political training in the old
Republican school. - .>----
Among he. Senators with whom Mr..
Taft yesterday discussed the league
were Senators McCuInber. McNary
and Colt. These Senators are all in
favor OF compromise, and are among
the mild reservationists of the Re-
publican side who have recently ex-
pressed their impatience at the fail
ure of the past weeks bipartisan
conferences to produce any material
gains In the direction Of a compro-
mise that would lead to early treaty
ratification.
Favers -Anti-Strike CIause.
Mr.. Taft saw the Senators in
Senator Harding's private ONCE in
the Capitol. He also discussed cer-
tain features of the railroad bill
with Senators Cummins and Kel-
logg. He expressed himself yes
terday as extremely interested in
the pending railroad legislation
declaring that the Esch bill is un-
sound and heartily endorsing the
Cummins measure. Mr.. Taft is a
strong supporter of the anti-strike
provision in the Cummins measure
Mr.. Taft lunched at the Capitol
and later in the afternoon delivered
an address entitled. Labor. Capital
and the Soviet" before the Nation
al Geographic Society. He deliv-
society last night. Today he will
be present at the Presidents in
dustrial conference. but expects to
depart for New Haven at IL o'clock
During his short stay in the
Capital, Mr.. Taft has stopped al
the home of Mrs. J. w. Boardman
at 1901 p street.
Asked when he would again visit
Washington. Mr.. Taft. with a broad
grin and a characteristic shrug OF
the shoulders. replied. 'I haven't
any more idea than the man in the
moon"
Speaking of william ]. Bryan. Mr.
Taft lauded the efforts of the Com.
moner to bring about a compromise
on the treaty and seconded the
Nebraskan's belief that the treat,
should not be made an issue in the
coming Presidential campaign.
HspefuI Of RatiAcatIon.
Mr.. Bryan and myself have many
points In common" said Mr.. Taft
land by the same token we differ on
a great many things. Frequently he
and have the same final purpose IN
| mind but proceed along entirely diff.
ferent lines. I greatly admire tho
stand he Is taking on the league and
agree with him that prompt ratifica-
ton Is imperative. 1 have just re!
turned from Michigan and Western
Pennsylvania, and feel sure that the
people are heartily In favor Of the
ratification of the treaty with thu
league would have been for the
original treaty as brought back from
Paris by President Wilson. I wouic
support the treaty with the Lodg,
reservations rather than see no treaty
at all. But I think It will be pos
sib1e to brirg about an early connpro.