The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1920-06-11
AGREEMENT ON LEAGUE
PLANK SEEMS NEAR

Chicago, June There were un-
mistakable signs today that Republi-
can leaders are rapidly approaching
an agreement on a platform.
The danger of fight on the floor
Of the national convention has been
about eliminated, it is stated on high
authority. l4..
A series of conferences between
progressive and old guard T. leaders
illuminated in a heart-to-heart talk
BETWEEN Senator Borah of, Idaho and
Senator Watson of Indiana, about IA
Leaeaet Of Nations plank. 7sato1r Fol-
1t was understood that Borah, one
of the leaders of the Senate "irre-
conciliables," fatty informed Watson,
spokesman for the old guard, that a
Ireaffirmation of the doctrines of
Washington and Monroe regarding
entangling alliances must be written
into the platform in language that
would leave no doubt as to its mean
ing.
Watson is understood to have in
formed Borah that he, National
Chairman Hays and other Republican
leaders were DESTROYS of drafting a
League of Nations plank on which any
one named as a candidate for Presi-
dent could stand.
Hays Opposed Watson.
Watson is ambitious to become
chairman of the committee on reso-
lutions. Borah is said to have as
sured Watson of his support on con-
dition that the League of Nations
plank adopted was satisfactory to him,
to Senator johnson Of California, and
to other progressives who are bitterly
opposed to President Wilson's League
Of Nations.
1t is known Watson is not unmind-
full of the support of Borah and john
son. Chairman Hays sought to have
Ogden l.. Mills of New York named
chairman Of the committee on resolu-
TONS He was opposed to Watson
heading the committee because of
Watson's close association with the
Old Guard.
A hot fight over the Craftsmanship
of the committee moved swiftly to-
day. Watson is facing opposition
from delegates who, while not OPP
posed to him personally, declare they
are against the Senate getting ev-
crything,"
They argue Senator should not be
chosen chairman Of the committee,
as Senator Lodge is already slated
to be temporary chairman of the con-
10
ed to head the committee on creden-
tials.
BOrah on Committee
Borah was placed in an advantag-
eous position in the treaty fight not
long after his arrival from Washing
ton. THE Idaho delegation met and,
without touching on the badly mixed
presidential situation, selected Rorah
as Idahos representative on the COM
mittee on resolutions. This was q
signal victory for the Idaho Senator.
AS a member of the committee he
will be able to participate in every
move that is made in drafting the
platform.
Senator Capper, a Progressive, who
voted for ratification of the treaty
with the Lodge reservations, and Sen
ator Mccormick Of Illinois, an "irre-
concilable," were among the Senators
who predicted the treaty issue would
be successfully met by the conven-
| ton.
Outline of Plank
1t was understood the league plank
would set forth four outstanding fea-
lures on which the Republican lead
ers were confident they would be sus-
tanned by an overwhelming majority
of the people:
A denunciation Of the League of
Nations covenant espoused by Pres
ident Wilson.
Unqualified approval of the stand
taken by the Republican majority OF
the Senate in refusing to commit the
American people to the League Of
Nations without the Lodge reserva-
tons. IN. o..
The creation of an international
course of arbitration in lieu of the
league plan as formulated by Presi.
dent Wilson and others of the "big
four" at Versailles.
A ringing reaffirmation of the doc.
trines of Washington and Monroe that
the American people be kept out OF
entangling foreign alliances.
Such a plank would meet the views
of all elements of the Republican par
ty, it was predicted, and would enable
Senator Lodge, in his keynote ad.
dress as temporary chairman of the
committee, to clearly enunciate a
, treaty. and league issue on which the
Republican party will be prepared to