New-York tribune., 1920-07-30
By William Howard Taft
Copyright. 1920, by Public Ledger G.

Senator Harding's speech of accept
ance was disappointing to many loyal
Republicans because of his failure to
would consistently put through the
League of Nations with the reserva-
tions for which thirty-four Republican
Senators, including himself and Sena-
tor Lodge, within year have voted
twice. One reason for emitting
specific declaration of this kind doubt
less was chat the Republican platform
was drawn without mentioning the
league with reservations for the pur-
pose of keeping Senator Johnson from
boiling, and Mr.. Harding considers that
his obligation as a candidate requires
that he conform to that purpose.
Nevertheless, one cannot be blind to
the weight of emphasis he uses in his
condemnation of the league and his
implications rather than direct state
ments that he would wish to initiate
a new association of nations to carry
out the declarations of the platform
instead of doing so by adopting the
league with the Lodge reservations.
1t is we'll, however, to analyze what
Mr.. Harding and MIR. Lodge have said
in the acceptance and notification ad-
dresses. 1t was necessary and proper
for them to confer over their addresses
before delivery, and it helps to construe
them together TO insure the meaning of
the acceptance.
Recognizes Obligation
Mr.. Harding fully recognizes, as the
platform does, the obligation of the
United States to take part in conven-
tional world movement to make an
abiding peace after this dreadful war
He urges that the unspeakable sorrows
and sacrifices Of the war must commit
The nations Of the earth TO new and
better relationship that they would be
IN vain if we cannot acclaim q new
order with added security to civilization
and peace maintenance. He says that
we must express our hope for the fra
ternized conscience of the world He
heors the call Of conscience for largely
reduced armaments and attending re-
duction of burdens upon peace-lOving
humanity and insists upon American
leadership in that invaluable accom-
plishment he says the Republican
party is committed to an association Of
netions in sublime accord to attain and
preserve peace through justice rather
than force, determined to add to Sc
curity through international law so
clarified that no msconception can be
possible without aTronting the honor
of the world.
Mr.. Lodge in his notification speech
says that the Republicans have been
and are quite reAdy to Join in agree
meht with other nations for the cxten-
SION Of The Hague conventions, for the
upbullding and codifcation of interna-
tlohai la" and the establishment of Il
world court of justice, for international
conf erence N regard to nonjusticiable
questions and for arrangements to
bring about a general reduction of
&rmamcnts.
These are the things which the
league with the Lodge reservations Sc
cures. if to the league covenant he
: added, as is likely. the provisions now
} recommended by the Root-Philimorc
Commission as TO the court of Justice
= and international law. The sanction
OF the obligation to submit causes of
Ni4t NiiIN Nb iuuiCIul CONSIDERATION or
to that of conference is secured in
the league with the Lodge reservations
by the universal boycott of the cove
nant nt-hreaking nation. Neither Mr.
Harding nor Mr. Lodge announces any
disapprova of that feature, for which
they voted.
Condemned Parts Stricken Out
All that these gentlemen condemn in
the lCpCjG iS fi.ick Nv
ervations Senator Lodge in his key
note speech said that in the opinion of
the Republican Senators voting for the
league with reservations the reserva-
tlons completely safeguarded the
United States from the dangers which
they found in the league as submitted
BY Mr. Wilson, and he repeats the
same idea in his notification ado ress.
N.Y. Harding says the same thing, in
effect, in his acceptance. He says he
understands the purpose Of the dom
inant group in the Senate. at was
not" he says seeking to defeat "a
world aspirations, it was resolved to
safeguard America" Again he says
; that the Administration sponsors re-
sisted every effort to safeguard Amer
ica, and finally rejected the league
) when such safeguards were inserted.
, Mr.. Harding emphasizes the evil Of
ptiiIe Shackted ny a written compact
, which surrenders our freedom of ac-
ton and gives to a military alliance
, the right to proclaim Americas duty to
the world He declares that there
must be no surrender of rights to a
, world council or its military alliance.
that no assumed mandatory, however
: appealing, ever shall summon the sons
Of this Republic TO war; and that "thcre
is sanctity in that right we will not
delegate"
: The reservation as to Article X ex-
pressly and effectively eliminates these
= features of the league.
> Nh. Lodges Indictment of TIE league
. in his notification speech contains the
following:
n But when we are called upon to
t become an integral part of per-
n manent alliance of foreign powers, to
r put ourselves in position where the
V youth of our country can be sum-
moned by foreign nations to fight and
die in Quarrels not their own. to en-
tangle ourselves in all the conflicts
} and disputes Of Europe where we have
no interest. to permit foreign inter
ference with our domestic questions