Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-24
Too Soon, Says Bishop Neely
To the Editor Of the Erering Public
sIp

To the Editor Of the Evening Public
Ledger:
Sir-Pardon the writer for expressing
the thought that this Is not the best
time for taking a straw vote" on the
so-called league Of nations.
Fer this opinion there are several rea-
sons:
First. Because the country has not
had a fair and full opportunity for
mastering the meaning of this formid-
able proposition. 1t is hardly a month
since the proposed constitution has been
revealed and published and, before that,
there seemed to be a purpose to keep
it a profound secret from the people
and since that time the mass of the
people have had little opportunity to
analyze and comprehend the document.
The contradictory statements in the
papers prove that. It is too soon to
take the vote.
Second. For some little time there
seems to have been a skilfully planned
and widespread effort through meet
ings, newspapers and other means. to
give a one-sided and incomplete view,
calculated to mystify the question. mis-
lead and sway the populace, particularly
by presenting an abstraction instead of
the concrete case. the aim seeming 10
be to commit tie multitude to the
league of nations" when the people know
little-if anything-about the league
which is being planned, but merely are
willing for a league. or anything that
Will prevent war. In this way the
Willingness to have a preventative or a
league is confused with and is inter-
preted as a desire TO have the present
proposed league, though the two things
are radically different This being the
case more time is needed for the peo-
pie to clarity their view.
Third. The league side, up to the
present. has had the advantage in or
ganization and method. Thus official
personages have for some time been
favoring the league and consciously or
unopnsciously influences have been ema
mating from them. In addition, there is
an intimation that frcm some source
the league side has had a strong finan-
clal backing and that there las been a
large expenditure of money for the
propaganda which has been mentioned,
while on the other hand the other side
had hardly begun to. exert itself until
within the last few weeks, so more
time is needed 10 get both sides of the
question fully before the millions OF
people and before taking even an OK
perimental vote
Fourth. Up to the present there seems
TO have been a disposition to suppress
freedom OF speech and liberty Of thought
on the part of those who oppose the
league, and this repressive effort has
manifested itself in word rdicule and
pictsrial caricature of some of the great,
est ana most patriotic men of the counS
try simply because they do not favor
what they regard sas a perilous experi-
ment, which they believe would end
III national disaster. ror this reason
no vote should be taken. at least until
there Is fair and judicial attitude
and the anti-league side has had a fair
and full hearing. ''''
fltth. 1t seems probable that man,.
who have been voting for the league or
nations do not mean the vote fer tho
present proposed league, with the pres
ent proposed constitution, but for an
abstarct and indefinite idea. With more
'Nne Ior consideration these persons may
vote differently
Sixth. At the present moment there
Is really nothing definite before tie
country on this subject, for the world
has been informed that the so-called
constitution has not yet been adopted
by the Peace Conference, and, further.
IL Is said that its contents will be
changed and peace advocates like Mr.,
Bryan and Mr.. Taft as well as presi-
dent Lowell. tell US it must be changed,
This being the case it would seem that
the voting should be withheld until there
is something definite and, possibly, final
in form.
Seventh. All the people have not vet
taken in the full meaning Of the fact
that the majority of the Senate of the
United States and that a majority in
both political parties, is opposed
to the league. That is likely to have
great weight, but whether it does or
not the Senate should not be coerced bv