Evening star., 1923-04-13
COURT FIGHT HIDES
WAR ON PRESIDENT
Mystery in UntimeIy Agita.
tion Attributed to Strife
in G. o. P. Ranks.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Joining the world court should be-
come an issue at this particular mo-
ment is the biggest puzzle Of the
hour to the administration itself
The talk of break in the ranks of
the republican party is not mere talk.
1t has a basis and there Is more 60
ing on under the surface than can be
discerned by the naked eye Of an
observant public. Fot the truth is
the merits Of the world court prob
lem are not the real issue at all-it
sion of dissenting views by those who
are anxious to prevent the renomina-
tfon of President Harding by the re-
publican national convention.
In the so-called 'irreconcilable" ele-
ment In the American Senate are sew
eral aspirants for the presidency or
henchmen of would-be candidates.
They have not taken kindly to the
Daugherty prediction of no opposi-
tion to Mr.. Harding's denomination
They are not excessively fond of
Messrs. Hughes and Hoover, who,
from the beginning. have leaned to-
ward the league of nations side of
the argument on foreign policy. and
they are not overjoyed at the pros
pect Of seeing Secretaries Hoover
rejecting the administration view
point on SO ticklish a political SUBJ
ject as international affairs.
Views Of Hoover Given.
Secretary Hoover just made a
speech in Des Moines on the world
court and Secretary Hughes Is about
to fire an opening gun, SO to speak.
on the project which was submitted
In the closing hours Of the last ses-
sion Of Congress.
But why all this now? is the ques-
tion asked on every side. Even II the
country were to express a prepon-
derant opinion in favor Of the world
court, no action could be taken till
next December. when the Senate
meets. And even IL the project hasn't
ment behind 1t. the tactical move for
the administration to make is to wait
till next December, when the solid
democratic support will enable 1t to
put the court protocol through the
Senate easily with the necessary two
thirds vote.
So the answer to the puzzle is not
to be found in the administration's s
projection Of the issue at this mo-
ment, but in the line of attack taken
by the opponents of the project, who
have nothing else of a concrete char
acter on which to invite the Harding
administration into the controversial
lists.
II the President doesn't take up the
challenge and lets the world court
matter slumber till next Congress he
will take away from his opponents
their main hope for publicity at this
time. Some of the Presidents advisers
have told him that and have also
pointed out to him that he ought to
make only casual references to the
world court on his Forthcoming
western trip. To go up and down the
country Affirming and reaffirming his
stand on the world court, 1t is con-
tended. would only be a confession
of weakness and diversion of the pub
lies attention from the main things
Mr.. Harding has to say.
Borah's Reply Ready.
The moment Secretary Hoover made
his Des Moines speech Senator Borah
was ready with an answering state
ment. Senator Hiram johnson is due
back from Europe on June z, and he
will have some more things to say
about the world court. Senator James
Watson OF Indiana, republican, Is
known to have been somewhat disap-
pointed that the President picked
Harry New to be Postmaster General
disappointed because he was on
the opposite side Of the fence in In
diana politics, and 1t looked, there
fore. like wallop at Watson.
Others who may not care much
about the world court itself are
bound to use the discussion as some
thing nick =
why the administration Is being
urged to let the matter drop after
Secretary Hughes has his say and
do no more about 1t until the Senate
meets In December. when enough
votes can be mustered to dispose OF
the issue.
This is all predicated on the as
sumption that the ostensible op-
ponents of the court will let the
controversy subside. II they do not,
the administration will find the true
political and some Of the friends OF
tho administration are saying 1t will
be the easiest way to demonstrate
why American membership In the
court is really being fought
Membership IN the world court Ia
not an urgent matter. No question
can be submitted to the court unless
the two or more interested nations
all give their consent. Any nation
whether member Of the court or
not can submit a question. The only
thing the President has asked is thai
America assume responsibility for
payment of the expenses of the court
q relatively trivial sum. and that the
United States take her part in elect
ing judges. But judges have been
elected without American aid and the
real elections take place once every
nine years, so there IL nothing urren,
in the whole business.
Then why all the fuss now, seven
months before anything could be pos.
sibly done about 1t by the Senate ?
1t isn't customary for members OF
Congress to argue about things go
far in advance. The real reason Is
the political rumpus in the republican
party, which is going on in an effort
to wear out the Presidents deter.
mination about 1924. Most Of the
politicians admit this to be a fact
and that's why the moves of the game
In the next few months will bear
watching from, that aneIa -T