San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-17
Coolidge Will Not Make Is
sue of Question Within
His Party. 4
DELAY CANNOT HARM
Observers See No Pressing
Need Of U. S. Taking
so. Action on Ii.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Copyright, by the San Antonio Light.
Washington, ID. C.. Sept. 17.--Ths
world court will not be made On issue
between President Coolidge and the
''irreconcilables" in the Republican
party. In fact, unless the Democrats
agitate the subject it will be l:t slum.
bering until AFTER the presidential CAM
raign of 1924 has been decided and a
new congress has been chosen.
The President sees no reason why
the harmony of the Republican party
should be destroyed at this time espe-
cially when a delay of year or so
in respect to Americas adherence to
the world court does no practical harm.
The United States has the right to
use the world court whether she signs
the protocol of adherence or not. The
only thing that formal adhesion to the
court would do would be to cable the
United States to participate in the
election of judges and just now there
are no vacancies TO fill and unless
some judge dies there is no likelihood
of another election taking place for
several years. The other obligS s;ciI
which formal membership includes is
the payment of part of the courts
expenses. The court is ably supported
by the principal powers and its ex-
penseS are relatively negligible.
Abide by Senate Action
So all in all there is no pressing
need for American action except as
an indication of moral support for a
project of peace. President Coolidge
is known TO share the views of the
late President Harding and Secretary
Hughes as to the desirability of Ameri-
can membership in n permanent court
of international justice though he may
have own ideas as TO what reServatioHs
should be attached to American ratifi-
cation of the protocol. In any event
Mr.. Coolidge has told party leaders
that he will abide by the action of the
Senate which means he will not active
~ insist upon ratification at this time.
The Democrats, of course, will try 10
force the issue TO rs to compel the Re-
publicans to take sides. knowing. in
deed. that the world court issue can do
more than anything else TO play havoc
with Republican unity.
Even the champions of the world
court in the Republican ranks of the
Senate are not disposed 10 insist upon
splitting the party at this time and
feel that n years delay does not com
promise either their support of the
court or do any damage outside the
senate.
Sidestep Ii in Platform.
Certainly the platform committee OF
the Republican national convention
will have its hands full trying to write
plank that will not stir up trouble
in the 1924 campaign. 1t will be re-
called that Elihu Root came to the
rescue in 1920 when an almost identi-
cal situation presented itself. So the
lawyers of the Republican party who
are skilled in the phrase making OF
platforms are counted upon TO write
pledge that will assure the support
of the party to "a permanent court OF
international justice instead of "thet
court now under consideration. The
same difficulty was bridged in 1920
by avoiding commitment to the
League of Nations" and pledging the
Looking back over the political de-
velopments of the last five weeks It
will be noted that Senator George II.
Moses. of New Hampshire. one of the
leaders of the ''irreconcilable' move
ment and prominently identified with
Hiram Johnson's presidential aspira-
tons. has come out flatly for the nomi-
nation of IT. Coolidge in 1924. The
President himself has let it be known
that he feels the Harding policy OF
keeping out Of Europe. is wise and that
returning travellers confirm the wisdom
of that policy. To get into the Fro
pean situation any deeper at this time
means trouble in the ranks of the Re-
publican party which only means IN
turn giving encouragement to a Hiram
johnson boom and to friction between
the executive and Congress. The
court isn't worth the trouble-nor IS
the European situation sufficiently
Americas concern 10 risk the loss OF
the presidential nomination throsgh
PARTY discord. That's the Coolidge
DositiOn today.