The Washington herald., 1921-09-11
DEMOCRATS FAVOR
ARMS CONFERENCE,
SULLIVAN BELIEVES
Says Party Leaders Are
Disposed to Co Operate
With President.
By MARK SULLIVAN.

ihe country can take IL for
granted. with much confidence. that
the attack on some aspects of the
coming conference for the limita-
ton OF ornaments. which was issued
In a routine way by a minor official
OF the National Democratic Commit
tee. does not rehect the policy Of
those who really supply the thought
Of the party.
Something much more near the
true attitude OF the larger mir ded
leaders lis suggested by a forcible
quotation attributed to former Pres
ident Wilson. The quotation may
be exact. or It may be only one Of
good many picturesque phrases
that have been attributed to the
former President since his retire
ment. The quotation as reported in
Washington gossip Is that Mr.. WI
son proposes to show President
Harding how a former President
should behave himself" Whether
truly portrays what Mr.. Wilson's
attitude toward the administration
has been since March 4. and Il may
be taken as an accurate forecast
Of what will be his true attitude
49, sHS bSaANN Va
Has Helped His Successor.
Aside from the meticulous taste
that Mr.. Wilson has observed in the
shape Of refraining from the faint
est suggestion of criticism, IL Is a
fact that in an affirmative sense he
has gone out Of his way to be help
full to the new administration in the
transition from his foreign policies
to those of Mr.. Hughes.
Incidentally, the conference In Its
social, IL not in its official, aspects
will present opportunities for Mr..
Harding to show his appreciation OF
this attitude on the part OF Mr.. VIII
son. Many OF the foreign statesmen
who attend the conference will be
men who either sat with Mr.. wilson
in some OF the sessions IN Paris. or
otherwise had official or social reia-
lions with him when he was In
Europe. The presence OF these men
sitting in the coming conference
within a few blocks Of where MI.
Wilson lives in retirement presents
opportunities for q gesture OF good
feeling, such as a man of Mr.. Hard
ing's unusual sense Of propriety and
friendliness among men Is not apt
to miss.
Other Leaders Also.
II heIpfulness, or at least scrupu-
lous restraint against anything
that would make the conference
more difficult. is Mr.. Wilson's pol
icy, II Is also the policy Of the
other Democratic leaders. who sup
ply the thought of the party. With
out doubt. they will be watchful
towards tho conduct Of. the con-
ference, and IL any occasion should
arise calling for legitimate criti-
cism by the opposition party they
will supply it whole-heartedly. But
they do not expect any such occa-
sion and they have no suspicion Of
the good faith Of the administra-
ton.
On details Of the conduct of the
conference, such as the degree OF
publicity to be followed. many Of
the Democrats, like many of the
Republicans, will take position
In favor of the largest publicity
consistent with the circumstances
but It was indicative OF the Demo
cratic attitude. in the largest sense
that Senator Harrison withdrew ar
amendment to the bill appropriat.
ing money for the conference
which amendment enjoined pub.
licity, Just as soon as Senator
Lodge objected to II. Senator
Lodge put his objections on the
ground that, for the American
Senate TO attempt to influence
through its control over the fund:
for the conference, a detail OF what
is essentially the conferences owr
business, would be lacking In tina,
kind Of courtesy on the part of the
United States that is desirable &C
give the most agreeable atmosphere
to the conference in our role oil
host.
Senator Harrison expects to brinI
up the subject of publicity agair
and to press the desirability Of II
on the conference. to the degree
that is proper for any American to
express this view. but the Demo.
Gratis will be careful to refrain
from anything that could be con.
strued as making the conference
more difficult for the administra.
ticn.
The same attitude on the part OF
the Democrats is reflected in re.
spect to another detail Of the con.
ference. Some Democratic sources
have said that Senator Underwood
ought not TO accept appointment OF
the delegation, on the theory that
such acceptance would tend &c
commit the party TO support of the
actions Of the conference. This
criticism is not we'll received. The
judgment of astute politicians is
that the American people, as a
whole. are 60 universally hopeful
of a favorable outcome of the con-
ference, that they will not look
with tolerance on anything in the
nature Of what politicians call
throwing a monkey wrench into
the works"