Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-10-21
@9p
ROOT REMOVES THE DOUBT.

There isn't much doubt now as to
what will happen In regard to the
League OF Nations as far as the
United States is concerned, should
the Republican party be successful
in the coming election. The EVE
MING NEWS has been of the opinion
from the beginning of the campaign
that no matter which party wins this
fall, the United States will be a men,
Der of the League of Nations within a
year. Senator Harding has been most
evasivs on this issue, evidently try
ing to please all factions in his party.
First he would say something that
pleased the opponents of the league
represented by Senator Johnson and
Borah, and then he would swing
around to give the Taft-Root-Wick-
ersham element a little encourage
ment.
/. OF late, however, the trend has
been decidedly in favor of a league
in some form-in fact Harding has
always said that he favored some sort
of an association Of nations with an
international court as the main fea-
ture. As for the League OF Nations
~ 1t exists today, however. 1t has
v been acceptable to him. Even
Taft and Hoover have been willing to
make some concessions along this
line In the interest of party harmony.
The only leaders who have refused to
compromise in any way. but who in
sist that the whole idea of the United
States associating with any other ia
ton in the interest of universal
peace and the advancement Of civiliza-
ton IL wrong are johnson and Borah.
The latter has practically withdrawn
from the campaign 20 bitter is his
feeling in regard to the matter.
Senator johnson will be in Perth
Amboy tonight and 1t will be very in
~terssting to hear what he has to say
aow that Elihu Root has delivered
ais message as the spokesman of
Senator Harding in the East, and
Senator Lodge has been heard along
similar lines in New York and New
! ark.
Elihu Root is credited with having
written the League of Nations plank
n the Republican platform. He
zones about as near voicing the true
principles of the Republican party as
any man living. In his speech in Car
negie Hall, New York, Tuesday night,
Mr.. Root said:
IT think a large majority of the
American people earnestly wish for
an organization among civilized ma
tons through which the nations shall
Cooperate to prevent future wars,
and that the United States shall do
her full share in that Organization.
l certainly desire this very strongly.
and I shall assume that you have the
same feeling"
In taking this attitude and assum-
ing that all his fellow Republicans
have the same feeling. Mr.. Root
practically eliminates Senator John
son, Senator Borah and all the other
'bitter-enders."
Further on in his notable address
Mr.. Root says:
"It Is plain. therefore. that the
issue is not between a League Of
Nations and no League of Nations
The question is whether the agree
ment creating the league shall be &C
copied absolutely unchanged oil
shall be modified to meet the Amer
lean objections"
This Is exactly the attitude that
thousands of Republicans who favor
the League of Nations. have taken
frmo the beginning. 1t Is Taft's po'
sition exactly; It is the stand Hoover
has taken. 1t means that Republic
can success this fall will place the
United States side by side with hel
sister nations in the advancement Of
civilization before another twelve
months roll around.
Many voters have refused to lool
Upon the coming election as g
solemn referendum" as far as the
league of Nations Is concerned. Al
matter of fact, Root and Taft art
rot so very far away from Presiden
wilson on this issue.
For instance. Senator Lodge. in /;
peech delivered in New York Sun
.ay night, referred to his reservation
o Article X in the league covenan
declaring that this reservation. !
adopted, would have made us tn
Judges of whether we would carry GU
the guarantees" of that article o
not; land in case Of our refusal thi
reservation prevented Its being
breach of the treaty" But" Sena
tor Lodge went on to say. 'the Pres
ident would not permit any reserva
lions to Article X"
For this statement the New Yor
Times takes the Massachusett
senator to task. The Times refers I
the reservation to Article X that wa