The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-11-01
LODGE FACING
CLOSE RACE TO
HOLD HIS JOB

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CONTINUED from First Paee.)
lions. They have formed a group
Who are campaigning for John A.
Nichols, Independent Republican
candidate for senator. The latter is
actively supported by Joseph
Walker, who ran against Mr.. Lodge
in the Republican primaries.
Lodge Leaders Worried.
Mr.. Nichols is also striving for
the prohibition vote because of MIR.
Lodges presumptively wet posi-
ton. Any fight, of course, which
becomes three-cornered can be dan
gerous. Mr.. Lodges managers may
not. have sought to appear worried
but their tactics betrayed uneasi-
ness to say the least. Secretary
Of State Charles Evans Hughes was
brought here for the purpose Of
strengthening out numerous Repub-
licans, especially among the BUSH
ness men and bankers who have
not. felt that Americas foreign pol
icy has been particularly directed
toward helping the world back to
normally. Mr.. Hughes attempted
to give an authoritative outline OF
the policy of the Harding admins
tration and got good deal of at
tention but the brief reference with
which he dismissal Mr.. Lodge
while he devoted much Of his
speech to other things naturally
started political tongues wagging.
Mr.. Hughes unquestionably came
here to help Mr.. Lodge, but mostly
to prevent the Massachusetts, vote
from being construed as a repudia-
ton of the foreign policy Of the ad-
ministration.
Demos Back Senator.
Still il Senator Lodge is to be de-
prived of some Republican votes
and he Is bound to lose many OF
those who have not forgiven him
for voting to override the Harding
veto on the bonus, and "drys" who
have not forgotten that he voted
against the eighteenth amend
ment-there is corresponding
number of Democrats who like
Lodge for his opposition to the
League Of Nations and for his wet
leanings. The Democratic party in
large part in this state was against
the League of Nations two years
ago and we're it not for the fact
that the league has been a minor
issue in the campaign MIR. Lodge
would retain most of the Demo-
Gratis who voted the Republican
ticket in 1920. The voters of Irish
descent opposed the league because
they thought it meant too close a
working agreement between the
United States and Great Britain.
Some of those folks now believe
Mr. Lodge was unwise in helping
TO make the famous four-power
pact which constitutes the United
States and England partners in the
Pacific. The Irish would prefer to
have the two countries not quite so
close. So there are profits and
losses. politically speaking in be-
ing against the League of Nations
but in favor of the four-power pact.
Post Supports Him.
When all is said and done, how
ever, Massachusetts, is not particu-
larly bestirred on Mr.. Lodges mis-
takes. The Boston Post. which has
! the largest circulation of any
morning newspaper here, is sup
porting Senator Lodge, though this
! same newspaper was thick and
/ thin champion of Woodrow Will
son throughout his administration.
II Senator Lodge is reelected
and it looks on the surface as If
he will WHINE can owe his vic
tory to feeling on the part of the
voters that he can do more for
Massachusetts in the United States
senate than can a newcomer. The
position Of majority leader carries
with it no small influence and what
ever people outside Massachusetts,
may think about Mr.. Lodges lead
ership the opinion would seem to
be that it is a valuable asset to this
state. Senator Lodge has been in
public life for 30 years. He has
accumulated many enemies-he is
not a chummy sort Of character on
the stump and he has made enough
speeches on enough subjects to
cause him trouble in any cam
i paign. But while the wind-up of
the campaign seems to indicate a
close squeeze, one should not be
surprised to see Massachusetts, fol-
low the normal Republican trend
of the eastern seaboard.