Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1920 — THE LEAGUE ISSUE [ARTICLE]

THE LEAGUE ISSUE

Senator Johnson, as every one knows, is supporting Senator Harding because the lattei - declared in his recent speech that he was -opposeu to the league of nations, even with “reluctant reservations.” The Republican .candidate ’is also being sup ported by Senator Borah, who is credited with saying that he would refuse to follow Jesus Christ should. He come to earth and declare Himself in favor of the league of nations. He, too, is satisfied with the declaration of Senator Harding. The ton Transcript glories in the opposition of its candidate to the league, and says “exit Republican covenanters.” These three authorities are believed to be entirely capable of understanding the English But now comes Mr. Taft, who admit® that Senator Harding spoke as

he did for the purpose of preventing a Johnson-Borah bolt, yet says that the friends of the league can count on Senator Harding’s support after he has been elected. And he too Is satisfied. The question thus arises whether Senator Harding meant what he said. Having won the support of Johnson and Borah, he is, after the election, to abandon the principle on the strength of which he won their support, and put through the league —with reservations —to which he has declared his opposition in order, according to Mr. Taft, to keep Borah and Johnson in line. In other words, the candidate is expected by Mr. Taft to treat his acceptance speech, as far as It has to do with the league, as a “scrap of paper.” We db not think that this is very complimentary to Senator Harding, nor do we believe that he would be guilty of such intellectual even for the sake of winning the election. To' repudate assurances In return tor which value — in this case political support—was given is tn the business world characterized by a very ugly name. Senator Johnson must have read the Taft statement with a peculiar, and perhaps a painful interest. It all suggests a certain comment recently made by the New York Times, printed in thd News of yesterday: Gambetta said that ideas make a political party, whereas, “interests” can make only a political group. And the question is whether the Republican party is not now so mucn made up of separate and competing interests that it has become pretty impervious to ideas. At any rate, we have these two groups, or interests, and the problem is one of harmonizing them. How two absolutely conflicting sets of ideas, those held by former President Taft, and those held by Senators Johnson and Borah, can be honestly reconciled, it is quite impossible to see. —Indianapolis News (Rep.).