Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-08
'STUPIDY SHORTS
BRYAN, MEANING
TREATY BATTLE
Finds Fault With Wilson, Cox
and Other Leaders for
Pact Stand.
CITES OTHER ISSUES
BY ROBERT BARRY.

WASHINGTON, March s.-A frank
charge Of political stupidity has been
laid at the doors Of those Democratic
leaders who are cOunselling partisan OPP
position to ratification Of the four power
Pacific pact and other conference treaties.
1t came from William Jennings Bryan. 1t
was directed at Woodrow Wilson and
James VI. Cox. who are held responsible
for the current effort to keep alive the
League Of Nations issue for purposes Of
defeating the Pacific agreement In the
Senate.
NIr. Bryan gave expression publicly to
what many Democrats have been saying
privately for several days. He believes
the best hope Of the Democratic party
rests in & campaign based on domestic
Issues, the alleged shortcomings and dis
appointments Of the Republican Con-
gress. He does not accord with the Viii
son-Cox program OF a spite campaign
against Senator Henry Cabot Lodge In
Massachusetts,, on the one issue which,
party leaders in the State declare.
certainly would re-elect the veteran Re
publican chieftain.
Close on the heels Of Mr.. Bryan's de-
ciSion to read the riot act to Democratic
Senators opposing ratification Of the four
ances that Democrats in Massachusetts
are determined to head off the wilson
Cox program Of reviving the league is
sue. It was said 10 be entirely prob
able NJ. Cox would receive a courteous
request 20 go elsewhere, and Sherman
III. Whipple. prospective Democratic
Enominee, would state his opposition to
the league Of nations and also the four
power pact. II was viewed as very pos
sibIe Mr.. Whipple would base his cam
paign against Mr. Lodge on the ground
the latter had ceased to be the Bay
State scholar in politics" and "our vet
eran statesman" and just "a narrow
party leader, dominated always by parti-
sanship and political prejudice" There
was said TO be a chance Of Mr.. Whipple
opposing both league and Pacific cal
lance" would contend Mr.. Lodge had
fought the one because il was Demo-
cratic and sponsored the other because its
authorship was Republican.
Mr.. Bryan's dashing attack on the VIII
son-Cox program and his definite align
ment with Senator Oscar Underwood,
Democratic floor leader in the Senate. is
the principal development in the treaty
situation.
In the Senate proper, Senator Harry s
New Of Indiana, Republican member OF
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
opened the Administration drive for ratI-
fcation Of the conference treaties. He
argued the Pacific pact was in no sense
an alliance 1t had been expected his
address would stand out as the chief con.
tribution to the treaty situation, but
scarcely had he taken his seat when SEN
ator William Z. Borah of Idaho, leader o.
the treaty foes, took the edge off the New
speech by Introducing a demand for a
statements by President Harding as to
the effect Of the four power treaty on the
Lansing-Ishf agreement which recog-
niZed japanese special interests in the
Far East. The Borah resolution was
adopted without roll call. after a brief
debate in which Senator Underwood as
sumed leadership in explaining Admin
istration viewpoint on the issue involved.
THE Lansing-Ishii agreement is COM
pletely wiped out by this treaty." Mr.
Underwood said. Senator Brandegee Of
Connecticut, Republican, and Robinson
Of Arkansas, Democrat, contended the
four-pOwer pact related solely to the
Islands in the Pacific whereas the Ian
sing IshiI agreement dealt with the main
land Of Ashia. Mr.. Underwood agreed.
holding the conference treaties as a
whole, clearly negatived any idea that
Japan has any special influence in the
affairs OF China and the region of the
Pacific by reason Of her contiguity of
soil" The special interest referred
TO IN the Lansing-Ishn agreement had
ceased, therefore, to have any status in
international law.
Mr.. Bryan's brOadside against the VII
son-COx league program, highly reminis-
cent Of his famous Jackson Day break
with Mr.. Wilson. follows:
WOULD LET LEAGUE
ISSUE REST.
Because our fight must be made
largely on economic issues. I think it is
unwise for the Democrats to prolong the
debate over the peace treaties. Every
days debate will tend to divert attention
from the economic issues and the Demo
Gratis viii not only suffer by this diver
sion OF attention, but they viii suffer
still more if they allow themselves TO be
Put in the attitude Of opposition to any
steps toward peace. There is no reason
the Democrats should not indOrse a very
good thing connected with the treaties
and then insist. as they rightfully can,
such progress as has been made has been
along Democratic rather than Republican
lines. The Democratic party has been
the leader In the peace movement and
consistently can support any steps taken
toward peace by the Republicans.
Take the case Of the four-power
frpa tv Il fz based unon the thirty