Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-16
LEAGUE PLANK VITAL
IN PARTY PLATFORMS
Belief Grows That Both Sides Will Gen.
eralize on Big 1ssue-Where 1t
Leaves the Voter

the league of nations; that the
voters will have to vote simply the
republican ticket or the democratic
ticket, because the attitude of the
two parties toward the treaty is
understood in a general way. In
ocratic ticket it will be because
they are satisfied with the cove
nant as it stands and do not want
it altered in an essential or ma
terial PARTICULAR: and if they vote
the republican ticket it will be be-
cause they are not satisfied with it
and desire it modified to conform
to the general terms laid down by
the republicans.
X X X X
Republicans at the Capitol are
well pleased with the Indiana
plank on the treaty. The demo-
cratic view was expressed yester-
day by an official high in the adj
ministration, who said: cit is such
a generalization that you could
drop every other line and it would
read as effectively"
The information obtainable yes
terday was that President Wilson
himself welcomes the form and
substance of the Indiana plank as
representing the possible attitude
Of the republican party.
X X X X
The republicans are gratified, be-
cause they think the terms Of the
plank will bring together the two
factions of their party. the mild
reservati0nists and the irreconcil-
ables. It is pointed out that the
wording Of the plank carefully
avoids offense by way of even
implied depreciation Of the outright
stand taken by the thirteen republic
can senators against the league.
The statement that I'VE fully
approve the action of the republic
cans Of the Senate in resisting its
adoption" Is taken to include the
senators who opposed the league
in entirety as well as those who
resisted its adoption without reser-
Vations. No distinction is made
over the method of resisting adop-
ton; the successful resistance is
the subject of congratulation.
X X X +
If any republican senator, for
''home consumption" desires to
urge the convention to repudiate
the entire league, he will have his
day in court. His motion will be
voted down. The attitude of the
republican party will be stated in
the platform, the will of, the ma
jority. and thereafter his individual
views will be submerged by the
party's voice, and yet he will not
have been repudfated for his course
in the Senate.
The feeling among republicans
at the Capitol is that if any senator
desires to bolt the party after that.
it will be because he was simply
born to revolt, like man is born to
trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
Where, it is asked, will the dem
oeratic senators who voted for res
ervations be after their own ma
tional convention has declared on
the subject: The judgment is that
they will fall into line and accept
the majority utterance of their
putty 80 &ACl V"us n HUI
nant question to some Of them is,
Where will the democratic voters.
for whom they spoke, go after the
convention declaration
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts,.
democrat, has prophesied that the
democrats Of New England will not
follow the party in the treaty: The
republicans claim they offer demo-
Gratis thus minded haven with
them, in the Amerfcanizing reser-
vations and in their carefulness in
not repudiating a concert of ma
tions. White House opinion of
this is that cit is camouhage" and
that democrats will not be deceived
thereby.
Anyhow. there is one consola-
ton: Opportunity will be given
Tuesday. November next, for the
voters to answer all the questions
and resolve all doubts