The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-08-21
THURSDAY. AUGUST n. 1919.
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS

Two OF the newspapers OF tho state
have asked this pape. why it believes
the people OF Vermont are for the
league of nations. The answer is very
simple and is the result OF the repeat
ed asking OF tho question as to how
individuals stand on the question
The common, everyday kind of PEG
pie who constitute the majority OF
the population of Vermont, are for
the league. or this we feel quite
sure. The man in politics is often
found against il, as are many of the
men of large interests, nut we are
thoroughly convinced that If vote
of the entire state we're taken today,
the league world b, endorcea.---B
tor Monito.
Following the suggestion o. the
Monitor that it is we'll to find out the
sentiment on this issue representa-
tive of tbs Eanner walked dong the
streets of Bennington and inquired of
the first sixteen Bennington county
voters he met as to their views on
the League of Nations issue
OF the sixteen men interviewed
thirteen are residents of Bennington
one of Pownal, one of Arlington and
one of Salisbury. None of them
we're men of large interests, the mum
her including wage earners, farmers
merchants and professional men.
Only one OF the entire sixteen was
ioutspokenly in favor of the league as
proposed, three did not claim to know
anything about it and did not care,
while twelve were opposed Most OF
them we're absolutely opposed but
several were willing to accept the
league with reservations. We do not
believe that the Monitor senses the
sentiment of Vermont accurately. The
Monitor should read the election re-
nrns from that Kentucky congress-
iqnal district which held Special
election. few days ago. The district
had been i. steadily Democratic for
thirty years aud the candidate of that
party made support of theaLeague of
Nations the principal plank in his
platform. Tho. Republican candidate
frankly opposed thesleague plan of
President Wilson and wbnAby a margin
Of about two thousands totes though
The district was Democratic in the
preceding election by nearly three
thousand.
President Wilson's League of Ma
lions plan is favored by many IDEAL
istic people because 1t is claimed by
it's sponsors that it will prevent war.
Il is beautiful theory but. in the
opinion of The Banner, an utterly
mistaken theory The League of Ma
lions in its proposed form would mix
America up in all the quarrels of the
world and would surely result in get
ing us into war instead of keeping Us
mt The best hope of the United
States is either no league at all or
with the reservations proposed by
Senator Lodge and Elihu Root.
The rank and file of the people can
aot take the time to study the whole
question. They have before them the
advice of George Washington and
Theodore Roosevelt, dead statesmen
If the first rank On the same side OF
the question is the living counsel of
Lodge, Root, Johnson, Catalan and
thousands of other brilliant men.
On the other side we have the urging
If President Wilson, Newton Baker,
Col House and other idealists whom
we respect but who have so often
proved mistaken that we do not be-
lieve the American people are behind
them on this issue.