Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1920 — SENATOR JOHNSON AGAIN [ARTICLE]

SENATOR JOHNSON AGAIN

In a recent article in the Sunset Magazine Senator Johnson says that there was in the committee on resolutions of the Republican convention a straight fight between those who favored ratification of the league covenant with reservations and those who opposed it altogether, and that the latter won. “Mr.

Lodge himself,” the senator says, "appeared before the committee on resolutions and did not desire the indorsement of the reservations which bore his name.” Former Senator Crane, and others, we are told, “insisted in substance upon a flat declaration for the ratification of the league of nations with proper reservations,” and, says Johnson, "it was upon this definite declaration pledging the Republican party to the ratification and adoption of the league and reservations that the contest occurred.” The result was the adoption of what the senator says is "a verbose and In part meaningless plank,” which was, however, accepted by the anti-league members because it repudiated the league, did not mention reservations, and affirmed the policies of Washington and Monroe. Then we have this: It would have been infinitely better, of course, had the platform said these things in simple, brief sentences, but the platform does say them, nevertheless, and the long, hard fight has not been in vain. The plank presented by Mr. Crane and the New Yorkers was decisively defeated. If the friends of the socalled league, with or without reservations, can draw any consolation froip the platform’s refusal to indorse the league, or to mention the reservations, none will begrudge it to them. The senator concluded, and he Is right, that “the Republican party stands committed, whatever may be sought to be read into the weazel words of the plank adopted, to repudiation of the league, even with reservations.” Such at any rate is Senator Johnson’s understanding of the situation. It is on the basis of this, understanding that he is

supporting Senator Harding. This is a fact of which former President Taft, an earnest champion of the league, perhaps did not take sufficient account. Johnson and the Chicago platform are supported by the speech of Senator Lodge at the notification ceremonies, and also by that of Senator Harding accepting the nomination. Will it be necessary to disappoint some one —and if so, whom? —Indianapolis News (Rep.).