New-York tribune., 1921-07-07
Delays Next Step in Hope
Bitter-Enders i'm Senate
May Be ReconciIed to
Hughes Hoover Views
Break Threatens
Success at Polls
New and Frelinghuysen
Among Friends of Pres
ident Up for Reelection
By Carter Field


between Hughes and Hoover on the
one hand, and the irreconcilabie Sena-
tors on the other, over peace. with
President Harding in between, is work.
ing inevitably toward delay in any set
tlement of the peace situation. This
becomes more obvious every minute
as conditions are cunvassed.
The truth is that the association of
nations, discussed so much by Mr.. Har-
ding during the campaign, as a substi-
tute for the unpopular Wilson League
Of Nations, is still far in the dim
future. There are many here who be-
lieve it never will be attained. There
will certainly be no hurry about it.
Much torn and unhappy because of
the bitterness of feeling among the
irreconcilable Senators on the one
hand and the calm insistence by such
trusted advisers as Hughes and Hoover
on the other, Mr.. Harding is following
his natural bent. He is waiting-post-
pcning the day Of decision in the hope
that something will turn up to make
possible decision that will not rouse
50 much resentment or will not be so
loaded with political dynamite.
Prefer Break 10 Treaty
No one krews better than Mr.. Har-
ding the intensity of the feeling
against the very words Versailles
Treaty" upon Capitol Hill. No one
knows better than he the extent of the
clamor these Senator'S will be able to
raise, nor how easy it is for them to
catch and hold the popular ear. The
PRESIDENT has been told that while
many of the Senators who feel this
way about it would dislike to break
with the Administration on any issue,
nevertheless there would be series of
loud splashes as they took the plunge if
he should send the Versailles Treaty
back to the Senate, and from that time
forth there would be fight that would
stay on the front page of every news
paper in the country for months,
The President has been told that he
could eventually win such fight if
he put on enough pressure, but the
cost of victory might be excessive, es-
pecially in terms Of the 1922 class Of
Senators.
Every Republican Senator coming up
for reelection next year is anxious to
avoid any renewal of the treaty fight
if possible. This does not apply only
to the irreconcilables. 1t happens that
not many of them come up this time,
though Hiram Johnson is one of the
few. Philander Knox is another, and
so is Miles POindexter. So far no one
of these three seems to have much
opposition, but some of the middle
ground. Senators, including such close
friends of the President as Harry New,
of Indiana, and Freylinghuysen, of New
Jersey, whose home he has just visited,
would be much embarrassed.
Former Senator Albert j. Beveridge
already is in the field for the Republi-
can nomination in Indiana against SEN
ator New. who is, perhaps, the closest
friend the President has in either
branch of Congress. In the previous
treaty fight Mr.. New followed the Re-
publican leader, Mr.. Lodge, voting fox
all the Lodge reservations and with Mr..
Lodge on the amendments as we'll Re-
submission of the treaty would force
hisa to take 8 position on every contro-
versial point all over again, and it is
an axiom in politics that the man who
is recording official votes is at a dis
advantage compared with the man out
side who has no responsibility but
who merely wishes to attack the in
cumbent.
House Majority Put in Jeopardy
While the House would not take part
officially in the treaty fight, were it to
be started over again, the campaign
issues would be forced on that issue,
thus complicating the situation. There
is no doubt that President Harding is
desperately anxious that his Admins
tration be Endorsed next year by a
sweeping victory at the polls and the
return of strong Republican majority
in the House.
All of which is presented to show
that it is not simple question that is
facing the President. 1t is not merely
an international, legal standpoint of
proceeding to adjust the relations of
the United States with the mainder
Continued on next paso)