The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-07
Senator Borah Asks Presiden-
tial Candidate to Safe
Views on Treaty
THE FIGHT is TAKEN
INTO THE CAMPAIGN.
Reported That All Candidates
VIII Have to Come Out In
the Open

the Open IS
Washington, Jan. Intention Of
Republican senators opposed to the g
league Of nations to request ali Re-
publican presidential candidates 20
place themselves on record as3Io the 8
issues involved in the league was dis
closed tonight by Senator Boraa, Re-
publican, Idaho, who made public g.
letter addressed to Governor Lowdens
Of Illinois, an aspirant for the Eer
publican nomination. $
Governor Lowden was asked tc say
whether he favored any policy a.li---
ance, league Of partisanship to-
abandon our traditional foreign poll
icy and enter into UNDERSTANDINGS "
and combinations which. would en- =:
broil, us in all European conflicts IND
turmoils. sa5E
.Those for.whom I speak" senas:
tor Borah said. have no intention of
/; confning these and similar questions
to yourself. 80; -
Senator Borah charged in his letss
ter that powerful European and s.
American interests were cooperating
to draw the United States into Esi-55
; ropean affairs, through the league oLs
nations if possible and if not oys::
secret and tacit agreements be-
claring that the questions and potic.es
involved must come before the nexss
administration regardless OF Amer
cas- entrance into the league the8lda..S
no senator said the personal views
of presidential candidates should be-
stated. ss.sssts 49,
"For nearly $50 years, I" said the
senator's letter, "we have In thss5;
oountry regardless Of parties adhered
to a distinct foreign policy-Io eHss
tangling alliances OF partisanshtpa
| with foreign powers and no interfer-4
ence by foreign powers in American
affairs s42 .s..,t > ss.ss:sss ss.:.s s
( If YOU should be nominated and
elected president would you expee
your influence and influence Of
administration to maintain tnisgfo@r-g: r.
eign policy or would you consent M
any to it's abandonment or Its. Sub
stantial modification? Do you believe
in other words, that time has come
when we should abandon this policy
Of no entangling alliances, no .,part-Ss
nerships with European powers, and
enter into alliances Of understand
ings with European powers?
"I ask these questions because re-
gardless Of what may or may not beE
in the platform the next administra-
ton will have to meet this issue IN.
different ways poWerIul 1oices
in this country cooperating with
equally powerful and persistent fore
es in Europe are determined to draw &
the United States into association andS
partnership with European powers
to embroil US in all European turmoil
and conflicts. to utilize our young
men in policing the territories and
fighting the racial and dynastic bat
ties of the old world and placing upon !;
our tax payers the burden Of hnan-ss
cial economic life Of both Europe and
Asia ard these forces will continue
their effort to bring about these things
after the election. If they can not
do it in one way they will do It In !.
another. If they can not succeed by
open agreement they will endeavor: to-
succeed by secret or tacit agreements
We, many Of us, feel therefore. that
we would like to know what your z
views are upon this problem and what
it will be your purpose to do should
you be honored by an election as 3
president"
, Senator Borah said American ops
erations in Russia were in violation
OF the constitution and against the
wishes Of the American people but IN s
furtherance Of secret agreement
made in Versailles.
This is but an intin1ation," said
Mr. Borah "of what is to happen s
should we conclude to abandon our
traditional foreign policy and enter
into understanding and combinations
which would embroil us in all Euro
pean conflicts and turmoils. Our
young men would be asked to sacri-1.
flee their lives in just such secret and .
unconscionable affairs as this in RUS
sia And Mr.. Taft, as I understand
from his public statement, is In fa-zs
vor if necessary of conscripting OF our
young men for that kind Of service
''Are you in favor Of any such pol
icy or Of any alliance, league or par.
tnership which may lead to such a.
program? What is to be your policy :
with regard to such affairs?'