The Colorado statesman., 1923-04-28
to be allowed to present their We've
on professional subjects.
Watching johnson and Moses.

on professional subjects.
Watching johnson and Moses.
Every Republican and every Dem
ocrat in Washington, and the ac'
tive politicians particularly. are show.
Ing interest today in the cabled de
tails concerning the European pill
grimage of Senator Johnson of Call
fornia and Senator Moses Of New
Hampshire. 1t might be said that the
Republicans are anxiously Interested
while the Democrats are hoping that
for their part they may become jubi
lantly Interested as the results of the
journeyings of the two senators be-
come known.
Why the interest? The answer Is
eusy. President Harding, 1t Is under
stood, expects to lay before the coun.
try In his forthcoming speechmaking
journey his reasons for believing 1t will
be IL good thing for the United States
to have official representation In the
International Court Of Justice. 1t Is
known, of course, already that Sena-
tor Johnson and Senator Moses are
opposed to such American membership
in the court. The administration forces
have been hoping that the opponents
of the court plan could be won over
before the senate takes up the ques-
ton next winter, and they have been
hoping also that the European trip
might convert the two senators to the
Presidents plan.
The Democrats interest, of course,
may be looked upon as selfish. but
naturally they will say that 1t Is a
constructive sel6shness. Seemingly a
majority of the Democrats In the SEN
ate are in favor of the world court
membership plan, but the party as a
party probably will not be sorry to
see the party of the administration d.
vided on this matter on the eve of a
presidential election.
Hope for Full Party Approval.
There is seeming belief in Wash
ington that the senate next winter will
approve of the presidential PROPOSE
ton, but the strong desire of the Re
publicans is to have 1t approved by
the full Republican membership of the
senate, and thus avoid the necessity of
making the approval dependent on
Democratic votes, although, of course,
Democratic votes to add to the votes
Of all the Republicans would be well
come.
There was a half belief in the ranks
Of the Republicans here, some Of them
connected with the work of campaign
directing, that Senator Johnson might
find while abroad something to give
him a reason for resisting his initial
impulse to combat the membership pro-
posal There are other Republicans
here who fear and seemingly believe
that the California senator will come
back more strongly opposed than ever
TO the plan for entrance into the court
and that his strength of purpose may
have as a companion the strength of
purpose of Senator Moses.
One of the best informed of the Eu-
ropean correspondents, man who
knows the two travelling senators per-
sonally and Intimately, states 1t Is his
belief that the Californian is increas-
ing his store of ammunition with new
arguments against entrance into the
world court Republicans here say 1t
is possible, perhaps probable, that this
terpret rightly the senator's words and
actions 1t will take some little time
vet for the truth In the case to de-
velop, but the general feeling in Wash
ington seems to be that Mr.. johnson
will not be diverted from his course Of
opposition by anything which he Is
likely to learn in Europe.
johnson Might Be Candidate.
In every column that has been writ
ten from Washington or from the
places which President Harding has
been visiting. there has been the fiat
statement that the President intends
to plead strongly for international
court membership on his speaking trip
through the country. Now political
gossip has 1t that If the response to
the Presidents pleas Is not what the
Republicans believe 1t will be. Sena-
tor Johnson may feel that he will he
justified from the public point of view
in entering the field as candidate
for the Republican nomination in OPP
position TO President Harding.
Republican thought in the case prior
TO this time had it that there would be
only one candidate against President
Harding for the omination-Senator
La Toilette of Wisconsin. The Repub
licans again are considering the possi-
bility that the California senator may
be a candidate upon platform which
declares against everything which
even by indirection appears to be an
approach to a mixing in the affairs Of
Europe.
It must be said. however, in spite of
all the gossip, the guessing, and even
the reasoning in the case, that the ma