South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-16
THIRD PARTY TALK
NOW ORDER OF DAY
G. o. P. Feels Shaky Over
Demands of johnson and Be-
rah for No League Plank.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.

publican national convention pre-
liminaries have reached a point,
when talk OF bolts" and third
parties is the ordCr Of The day.
II is recognized by experienced
politicians that there are possibilities
OF a bolt. two possibilities, IN fact.
One boiling movement may be led
10y Sen. Borah and another by Sen.
Lafollette
Contrary 10 reports that are fire.
quently heard in political circles
Sen. Hiram Johnson will not lead a
bolt from the convention, no matter
what happens at Chicago. lie had
enough experience along that line
in 1912 to last him lifetime. SEN
ators who are close TO Sen. JohnsoU
and whose speaking tours in his
behalf have brought them in.o po-
sition TO speak authOritatively said
today that Sen. Johnson never had
any thought OF laying the ground
word for d bolt and that he Will
neither lead bolt nor join in any
detection that may result from in
harmony at Chicago. These assur-
ances affectually dispose OF rumOrs
which connect Sen. Johnson's name
with a possible split growing out Of
the Chicago convention.
BOrah May Walk Out.
Sen. BOrah, on the other hand. Is
just now in d frame of mind 10 walk
out OF the republican national con-
veEtion in case the platform does
not declare unequivocally against the
whole League Of Nations scheme,
Lodge reservations and all. The
fight against the treaty will be led
at Chicago by Sen. Borah. He will
make his first stand before the COM
mittee on resolutions and will in
sist that the committee shall include
IN the national platform a plank that
will condemn the treaty in toto in
terms that anybody can understand.
If the committee decides against him
ne will bring in a minority report
and fight for its adoption by the
convention. If the convention turns
down the minority report and de-
clares for the league with the Lodge
reservations il will be surprising If
Sen. Borah and his never -say-die"
followers do not walk out of the
convention and announce the for
nation of a third party movement
with an invitation to all Americans
who condemn the League of Nations
to fall in behind their banner.
Such a movement, it is contend
ed would furnish the only haven
for those who regard the League OF
Nations as a great overshadowing
menace TO American tranquility and
American Institutions. 1t is a fore
gone conclusion that the democratic
national convention, if it does not
yield TO the presidents demands and
indorse the league with reservations.
If the republican national cOnven-
ton approves the league with res
ervations Sen. Borah will find fer
tile field for his activities in trying
to arouse the sentiment Of the cOun-
try that thinks the United States
should shun membership in any sort
of a world league as ii would
pastilence and steer clear of foreign
alliances and entanglements.
JOhnsOn'S Power Grows.
That this sentiment is already n
vast factor in politics and growing
steadily has been demonstrated. the
irreconcilables say. by the over
Johnson OF California in his attacks
on the league during his recent
speaking tour of the country. They
point out that wherever he made
his assaults on the league he re-
ceived the most hearty responses
and that the tests Of sentiment
which he developed on his tour
make il plain that the people desire
that America shall be kept free of
world leagues and left free to work
out its national destiny in its own
way.
That the league issues may pre-
cipitate a collision at the very out
set of the Chicago convention now
seems likely. The republican ma
tional committee which stands for
the treaty With the lodge reserva-
tions is putting Sen. Lodge forward
for temporary chairman and key
note orator Back of the plan to
name Sen. BOrah as permanent
chairman is the element that wants
to commit the party irrevocably
against the treaty OF Versailles and
its League of Nations. regardless Of
any reservations. If Sen. Borah
should win the permanent chair
manship the republicans may be
confronted by the unusual situa-
ton Of having the temporary chair
can sound one sort of keynote and
later TO hear that keynote knocked
into a cooked hat by the perma-
nent chairman. The situation is one
that is strongly suggestive Of trou-
bic ahead.