Evening star., 1923-04-25
Politics at Large
BY n. O. MESSENGER.

y,
fore the members Of the Associated
Press in New York yesterday, is re-
garded in political circles as having
practically begun the series Of public
addresses which he will deliver dur
ing the summer outlining the
achievements Of his administration
and announcing the administrative
policies to be followed in the future
and to be recommended for Legislative
action.
Republican leaders will await with
profound anxiety and interest the re-
action OF the public to his address Of
yesterday in explanation Of the pro-
posal OF adhesion OF the United States
| to the International Court OF Justice,
which reaction is expected to be
prompt and easily translated. 1t
should reflect the temper OF the peo.
me r>oon second thought. Those politf-
cal leaSers who advised thA President
to drop Me undertaking, on account
OF asserted unpopularity with great
numbers OF republican voters, will
find out whether they were right or
wrong. In making that recommenda-
tion to the President they did not
utter their own sentiments alone.
Ihey were rejecting the pressure
brought upon them by their repub-
lican constituents and passing II on
to the titular head of the party.
X
That. however, was before the
President explained and clarified the
purposes, scope and the limitations as
well Of the project in hand There is
no question that there was widespread
misunderstanding and lack OF knowl-
edge of the proposition. This was
shown by the nature Of the objections
urged by many Of the protestants.
Protests literally showered upon
some of the party leaders in Con-
gress and in other circles in wash-
ington. Perhaps all of the recipients
dld not share the views expressed by
their correspondents, but they could
| ume OF them and to discern q dan
gerous condition Of Affairs for the
party.
The opinion among politicians is
/ and succinct explanation of his plan
and Its effect and that he pointed out
with clarity the lack OF Foundation
upon which some OF the ohjections to
and apprehensions OF the effect of the
working out Of the plan were con-
| the fact that the party leaders who
echoed the protests of their party
colleagues were seriously alarmed at
conditions, and they will lie the first
to be relieved at the reaction II IL
promises to make for a better under
standing and harmony in the party
ranks
Indication of this anxiety among
the leaders was shown when John T.
Adams, chairman of the republican
afv-
able to attend the Associated Press
luncheon. where the address was de-
lirered. in person to sense the reac-
tion of feeling OF the publishers and
sented there. Chairman Adams, as the
responsible manager of the narty.s
affairs, had been peculiarly. sensible
of the volume and character Of the
objections TO the world court plan.
He also knew OF the state OF feeling
in his own state Of Iowa. regarded as
a rock ribbed republican common
wealth. ard it is no secret that he was
alarmed.
The next thought that will engage
the politicians is, what will the
President do if the reaction of the
next week or ten days shows pro-
nounced hostility to his plan? Will he
drop it in the face of the please and
arguments he presented for it's adop
tion, or will he continue it's advocacy
in the addresses he proposes to make
this summer and seek to sway public
opinion to its support.
The republican leaders and oppon-
ents are apprehensive OF the aEita-
ton and possible bewilderment of
thought which would follow such a
a. Ia "a
pronounced favorable reaction should
set in. backing up the President. and
the President should deem further
discussion unnecessary now, would
Congress session and come up for
debate in the Senate on the eve OF the
campaign?
There are two schools Of opinion
among the advisers and political
counselors of the. President. One fears
that adhesion to the world court plan
would be accepted by the voters as a
concession to the democratic position
on international affairs. The other
Iapprehends that abandonment of the
plan would be viewed as accentuating
American aloofness 50 sharply as to
ALLEVIATE an element in republican
party, which was willing to accept
the league of nations with the reSer-
vations proposed by the Senate. Presi-
dent Harding is understoon to believe
that with respect to the vote getting"
potentialiies of the plan, aside from,
what he regards as the logic and hu-
manity of it,. his position is not to be
lightly considered.
X !: X
Politicians are already beginning to
discuss what effect the acceptance or
rejection of the International Court