Hickory daily record., 1921-06-09
FEAR OF PARTY DISRUpTTON
Republican.
President Harding's first thu

PRESIDENT Hardlng's first thu ee
months in office confirm, on the
Whole, the impression made bv his
nc'nnatlon and campaign and by the
Republican national platform--th -tha,
the policies of the government are
beng shaped to a very larg4 extent
by the fear of party disruption
which turks in the mind of every
leader affiliated with the adninistra
ton. The Republican party is still
living too close to the great Prog
resslve schlsm Of 1912191G to l:o IN
pervious to apprehen5ioas Of this
character All important public is
sues have to be considere! first of
all with reference to the question:
What position would teri to split
the party ard what Position wculd
unite lt?' The controlling politicians
IN most cases will choose the course
least likely to split the party, even
regardless perhaps of the best inter
ests OF the country.
The action of the President and
the Senate in securing the ratifica-
ten of the treaty witt. Colombia in
spite of the opposition cf !: very ar,
ticulate group that regarded ratifi-
cation as reflection upon the late
Mr.. Roosevelt, may be cons lderod IN
consistent with the view that party
harmony is held to be tie chief test
Of sound policy. Yet that action was
taken when the new Administrations
power was at the maximum and the
outcome showed that :he political
risk incurred was a safe one Cor
cerning much more important and
profound issue of foreign policy no
risk Of the sort is being taken.
After three months Of the Hard
ing administration I'VE find it aim
lessly drifting, SO far as the pubi:,
can determine, on such questions as
the technical peace with Germany,
the use to be made Of the Versailles
treaty and the character Of Ameri-
cas- cooperation with Europe for the
maintenance Of the worli's peace.
The most convincing demonstration
Of this sasertion, perhaps, is the di-
vergence. between Senate and house
over the nature and text of the Knox
peace resolution, which now threat
ems to precipitate struggle between
the two houses. It is difficult to be-
lieve that if the President had fixed
upon a clear and definite program
for which he was ready to assume
full responsibility he would permit
this divergence to develop. The low
er branch would undoubtedly yield to
White House persuasions and pass
the Senate resolution xithcus radl-
cal changes if the White House and
the Senate were now of one mind and
the President were disposed to exer-
,ise boldly his function as the party
leader.
1t is difficult to think Of any one
cause Of the present uncertainty as
to the administration program in for
eign afafirs that strikes more deeply
to the root of the trouble than the
fear of party schism mainly that en-
fear of party schism mainly hat on
abled ''the battalion of DEATH a
small minority in the Senate, to hold
the balance of power. dictate to MI.
Lodge the text of vital reservations
to the covenant and finally defeat
ratification of ire Versailles treaty
and the League of Nations. 1t was
fear of another bolt like that Of
1912 that brought about the compro-
mise League of Nations plank in the
Republican, national platform and
kept the presidential candidate fac
ing both ways on the issue during his
canvass. Since the election gave 70
Mr.. Harding his overwhelming ma
jority Of the popular and electoral
votes the same fear ras constrained
the administration leaders to concede
to the irreconcilables their own
Interpretation of the election figures
as meaning that the American peo-
pie had irrevocably turned their
backs on the League Of Nations.
That Interpretation is not the only
one of the election for which a strong
case can be made 1t can be shown
that some 80 leading men of the Re-
publican party including the present
secretary of state himself, appealed
to the voters to support. Mr.. Hard