The Washington herald., 1921-01-03

! the church. Cassidy shortly there
ing and not Woodrow Wilson the
glory of authorship.
While the position assumed by
Lodge is prediCated on a desire to
leave the initiative in international
affairs to the President-elect, re-
plies of some other Republican SEN
ators indicate an unwillingness to
commit themselves in manner
which subsequent events might in
dicate opposition by them to the
Harding program.
| Against Embarrassing Harding.
An inclination among some Dem
ocrats to refrain from expression
of their views is attributed to a de-
| sire not to be placed in a position
| of expressing in advance OF the
Harding recommendations a pre-
conceived opposition to his pro-
gram. Senator Oscar w. Under
wood, of Alabama. minority leader.
gives assurance that, while he still
believed in American membership
! in the existing league of nations,
any suggestions advanced by Hard
ing would receive fair considera-
1 tion from me-"
Underwood's attitude is express
sive of the growing feeling in
| Washington that many Democratic
Senators do not intend to permit
blind Endorsement of the Wilson OBJ
stinacy to lead them into war on
whatever Harding may propose.
however much they would prefer
ratification of the Versailles cove
nant. That spirit of compromise to
obtain something bearing resem-
blance to the Wilson league rather
than have nothing at all was found
in the reply Of Senator Pat Harri-
son, Of Mississippi. who was chair
man OF the Democratic SPEAKERS
bureau during the Presidential cam
paign and one of Gov. Cox's ad-
! visers.
New League Impracticable.
/ A number of Democrats. led by
Senator Gilbert NJ Hitchcock, of Ne
braska, who directed the administra-
ton fight against the Lodge reserva-
tiOns, state their opposition to any
proposed new association of ma
tons" on the ground of its alleged
| impraCtiCability. They urge that the
only feasible means is to enter the
existing league with such modifca-
tiOns as may be necessary to bring
about ratification.
One striking development of the
| inquiry is the reply from SEN
ator Thomas E. Watson. Senator
elect from Georgia. The political
frebrand of the Cracker State has
undertaken to establish himself as
the bttterest of all bitterest. He
/ lays claim to the Borah- Johnson
Reed crowns by stating in the pic
turesque language of his political
speech his irreConcilable opposition
even to proposals that the high
priests of the cult are inclined to
favor.
New Fnyors New Alignment,
| Two of the most significant state
ments obtained come from Sena-
tors Harry s. New, of Indiana and
Joseph S. Frelinghuysen, of New
Jersey. Both Senators formerly ia
vored ratification of the Versailles
covenant with the Lodge reserva-
tions. New was a member of the
bipartisan conference committee
which tried to bring about a COM
promise on Article x Both sena-
tors now state their opposition to
having the United States enter the
existing league. New believes that
some sort of new association may
be organized; Frelinghuysen is de-
cided1y skeptical' that such pro-
gram can succeed without impair
ment of Americas constitutional
prerogatives.
| Senator Porter ]. McCumber, of
North Dakota, mildest of the Re-
publican mild reservationists in the
Senate fight, outlined more in de-
tail than after his conference at
Marion with Senator Harding, his
views on the league of nations. Mr.
McCumber, while stating that, he
could see no objection to ratifica-
| ton of the treaty of Versailles along
/ the lines indicated by the letter
of inquiry, expressed serious doubt
that a two-thirds majority in the
Senate would be obtained for such
an end.
Would Kill Present Pact.
Hitchcock holds that solution lies
only in American entrance into the
existing league, that it is not pos
sible to organize another organi-
| zation so long as that organized
at Versailles remains. However, he
| indicates a readiness to support
material notifications in the will
son covenant. long step from his
position in the treaty debates of
1919 and 1920, although constitut-
ing in effect a repetition of his
course with respect to reservations
his change of heart coming too
late. =
"I made the motion in the Senate
for the unconditional ratification Of
\ the treaty, which was defeated"
| Senator Underwood stated In his re-
ply. II still believe it would have
been the part of wisdom to ratify
the treaty at an early day after its
submission and make such amend
ments as were desirable after we
had entered the league. On March
4 the situation will pass from my
party's control to President-elect
Harding and his colleagues in the
Republican party
"As to questions of compromise, I
| do not desire to express an opinion
at this time. The initiative will
rest with the new President, and
when he makes his suggestions,
they will receive fair consideration
] from me-"
toouYnxht. 1891. Public Ledger c.,