The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-08-22

| Senator Lodge the extreme reSerVa-
tionist, and William II. Taft, who has
advocated the mild reservations
Who can say what Senator Hard
ing's real views are? Has he any
convictions that will rlse above po
litical expediency? II he is elected
will he resubmit the league cove
nant TO the senate and, If so. with
what recommendations? Or will he
scrap the league entirely? Is he op,
posed to the Lodge reservations? If
so, why did he vote twice in the
senate for the Lodge reservations,
when and how was he persuaded
against them and why is Senator
Lodge supporting him?
Nominated by Boss Convention.
Senator Harding seems TO have
shifted from the untenable ground
that the Federal constitution pro
vides for party government. However
he still assures the country that ii
elected he will give II party govern
ment. But the senator does nor mean
| by party government what the peo
| pie understand it to mean. He dos
not believe in the right OF the rank
and file of the party to express l.!
self in the only way in which It can
express itself effectively namely. ir
the selection O., candidates ana the
formulation of .l.:ty policies. II Son
ator Harding sincerely believed in
party govern n It he wouli have
refused a nomination at the hands
Of q boss.controlled convention when
IL was clear :t,rC thal cCIyrntion
met that another than he was the
real choice of the rank and file or
the party and that Senator Harding,
himself, was the choice Of unly
mere handful. How can Senator Hard.
ing honestly proclaim himself In f&v
or Of party government when he is
opposed to the direct primary which
is the only instrument the members
| Of q party have to express their will?
'In a Hotel Room"
What Senator Harding believes in
is not party government, but boss
control. He has the Mark Hanna
conception Of party. He looks upon
the republican senate cabal as the
republican hosts and deceives him.
self that when Senators Smoot ana
Watson and Lodge Murray Crane,
James Hemingway and Col. Harvey
met privately in a room in the Black.
stone Hotel at two o'clock in the
morning to decide upon him as the
candidate and to determine his polio,
les the republican party was assem-
bled together for solemn delibsration.
Repels Thinking Progressives.
There is nothing in the record and
personality OF the Republican candi
date to attract the Independent and
thinking liberal in every test. And
his record and personality make it
impossible for one who cherishes the
memory OF the Progressive party and
is proud Of what it stood for ana
accomplished, 10 support for president
the man who DETAINED and vilified that
party and declared that when the
Progressives came back into the Re.
publican party they would have to
come on their knees" How can j
Progressive who was privileged to
march ahead under the leadership OF
Theodore Roosevelt the greatest man
of his generation, now be content to
turn back and stumble along in tho
dark behind the banner Of the man
who called Theodore Roosevelt the
Aaron Burr Of the Republican party?"
Cox Has Character
Governor Cox. the Depocratic can.
didate, is in distinct contrast to
Senator Harding. As chief executive
Of Ohio 70 rthree terms he has fine
record of an affirmative character
along progressive and administrative
lines. After Senator Hardings labor
ed, fumbling and eyasive speech OF
acceptance Governor Cox's clear and
straightforward declaration Of prin.
ciples come like a breath of cool
air on muggy day. Gov. Cox seeks
to make clear the issues, not 10 con,
fuse them. He is not afraid TO let the
people know where he stands scorn
ing TO win votes out of mlsunder
standing and confusion of mind. He
believes there are such things as
political principles, He has convic.
tions and conceiyes it TO be only
common political honesty to let the
people know what those convictions
are. He does not stoop to attempt t.
get votes under false pretenses.
Harding Has No Position.
Personally, l cannot endorse Gov.
Cox's attitude on the League Of Ma
tions. On that issue I accept Senator
Johnson's courageous and statesman.
ike views. l might prefer one Of
Senator Harding's positions on the
league to the stand taken by Governor
Cox if l only knew which one was
his real position and that he would