Evening star., 1923-04-25
PRESIDENT READY
To MEET ENEMIES
OF WORLD COURT
Home. to Mend Rent in
G. 0. P. Ranks After Putt
ting Fight in Open.
McNARY AND STERLING
GRATIFIED BY ACTION
Both Declare Definite Course Will
Win Votes for Party
in 1924.

Having placed before the country
his reasons for advocating American
memberShi in the international
court, President Harding returned to
his desk today prepared to argue out
the differences over the issue which
have arisen among republican leaders.
THE country likes a man who will
take position he believes right and
stick to it. President Harding s
courageous speech in New York deal
ing with the proposed adherence of
the United States to the world court
will win votes for the party. If it
causes any detection in the ranks of
the republicans. it will be small"
Briefly, this expresses the views of
Senator McNary of oregon and Sena
tor Sterling Of South Dakota, both
republicans and strong supporters of
the proposal that the United States
should join in the world court.
Others Disturbed.
But there are others among the
republicans who are much perturbed
because of the stand taken by the
President in support of the entry of
the United States into the court. In
their opinion. the fat is now in the
fire. They see possibilities OF a party
ruction over the world court that may
bring about democratic victory next
year.
While they are not speaking for
publication a this time. some of the
friends OF the administration in the
Senate are privately making no secret
of their disappointment OF the Presi-
dents stand.
Opponents of the administration
ranged on the republican side of the
Senate chambber-declare a split is
coming that will result in the dis
nemberment of the republican party.
Senator Sterling said frankly that
he did not agree with those repub-
licans who fear that to make an
issue In favor of entry into the
world court will be harmful to the
party at the polls. ..
Glad Issue Made.
II think the issue should be made
and the President has made it," he
said. The people in South Dakota
enter the world court. The people
of South Dakota are representative
of the people of the great middle
west: Personally, l believe that the
PEOPLE would have approved gladly
the entry of the United States into
the league of nations with the res
ervations which were adopted by the
Senate. With those reservations, the
interests of the country were amply
protected. My own opinion is that
TO accept our membership in the
league with such reservations. But
the treaty Of Versailles cannot be
sent to the Senate by the President
row and the world court is a diff
ferent thing"
Senator McNary, Oregon. was equally
certain that the people of the west
would approve the stand taken by the
prae fnr he
when the vote is taken in the SEN
ate on the protocol providing for ad-
herence of the United States to the
world court" he. said. there will not
be more than nine or ten votes cast
against the proposal
Six-vote Power Fought.
Senator'S who do not like the pro-
posal of the President and those who
do not think 1t wise to inject the
world court as an issue into the
political situation, said today that one
of the arguments which would be
made against the proposal and which
would have great weight was the
six to one" voting power OF the
agency through which the judges Of
the court are selected
How could republican senators who
opposed during the fight over the
ish empire be now expected to con-
cur in the position taken by the
President that this was not a draw
back to adherence to the world court.
they asked. They criticized particu-
larly that part of the Presidents ad-
dress in New York.
Cites Hughes Proposal.
Senator Sterling called attention to
the fact that Secretary Hughes had
suggested a reservation to the pro-
tocol providing that the United States
should take part through its repre-
sentatives in the election of Judges
of the world court on an equality
with other nations. He said he be-
lieved this would protect the inter-
ests of the United States in this
matter.
Now that the Irish are going into
the league of nations" Senator Sterl-
ing said. perhaps some Of the oppo-
sition to the world court will be dissi-
pated." he said.
THE courageous attitude of the
President is bound to gain support"
continued Senator Sterling. "The rec
ord of the President has been one of
courage. His stand on the soldiers
bonus whether you agreed with him
or not, was courageous. He did not
swerve in his determination to put
through the shipping bill at the last
session, and now he shows no sign
Of giving way in the slightest on the
world court