The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-27
HARDING LANDS IN
PARTY TANCLE BY
COURT PROPOSAL
Falls Into Political "No Mans
Land Because Of Differ
ences On League Issue
FAILURE TO CONVENE
SKEPTICAL ONE CAUSE
Campaign Addresses BY Pres
ident Cited To Prove Sew
eraI Inconsistencies
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
BY Leased Wire To The Age-Herald)

WASHINGTON, May 26.-In try
ing to advance his world court pro-
posal, President Harding has ventur
ed out into a political no mans land
where he is caught between a hot
cross fire from the Senate irrecon-
cilables on one side and the ardent
league of nations group on the
other.
This predicament grew out of the
Presidents attempt to convince
skeptical senators like Borah and
Johnson that the world court propo-
sal is not back door means of en-
tering the league of nations assem-
BLEED there, that the United States
could never enter tn league through
the side, back or cellar door He not
only failed to convince Borah and
the other skeptical senators, but he
brought down upon himself series
of sharp attacks, amounting to
yelled insinuations from friends of
the league who have been aroused
TO Indignation by Harding's abrupt
rejection of their ideal. These pro-
leaguers have produced the now
famous Round Robin of the 81,
league republican who, just before
the presidential election in 1920, de-
clared In a public manifesto that
the surest way to get into the
league lay in the election of Hard
ing.
Challenge To President
DIR. A Lawrence Lowell, of. Har
ward, one of the signers, declared in
a speech here a few days ago that
in view of this proclamation Hard
ing was wrong in declaring that his
election was decisive rejection of the
league by the people of the country.
To a previous suggestion of a
similar nature, Harding recently re-
piled that he was not responsible
for the pro-league statement and
that he made his own views clear
during the campaign.
Now DIR. Samuel McCune Lindsay,
who assisted in preparing the state
ment says that the text was tele-
graphed to Harding at Marion be
fore it was made public. VIII ii.
HAYS. chairman of the republican
national committee during the cam
paign, says he does not remember
who approved the statement before
it was issued.
Many of the republicans who
signed the document-and they IN
cluded Charles E. Hughes. and Her
bert Hoover, now members of the
cabinet. Elihu Root, Henry w. Taft
and George w. Wickersha m-re-
garded it and still regard it as =
declaration of the policy, binding
upon the freSluenl III view u INV
circumstances under which it was
prepared and issued. But President
Harding regards it merely as the
Joint utterances of the signers and
in no way expressing his own views,
Former Talks Recalled.
Harding was extremely guarded
in his references to the league dur
ing his campaign. But two nights
after the election, he declared the
league was dead so far as the
United States is concerned. He has
reiterated his thought many times
since.
President Harding is annoyed at
the insinuaticns that have been
made regarding his part in the incl
dent spokesman at the white
House said Friday that the Presi-
dent would not reply to them. It
was said that the President feels
he is doing everything he can to
carry out his campaign promises.
For the benefit of those who are
impatient that more has not been
accomplished. 1t was stated that
practical difficulties prevented the
president from doing all that he
had dreamed This reference was
thought to apply to the association
of nations project which the Presl-
dent had hoped could be set up IN
Mace of the league. For months az
ter the President came into office
he cherished the hope that his world
scheme might be launched during his
first term.
But one opportunity was lost when
a suggestion made during the Wash
ineton armament conference falled
frlit.