Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-21
CALIFORNIA AND THE LEAGUE

If the people of California were to vote on
the League of Nations, majority would be
cast for ratification, in the opinion OF Frank
C. Jordon, secretary of state for California and
one of the most popular officials that state has
ever had.
Mr.. Jordon, who is in Washington for a
visit Of few days, is a Republican and is now
serving his 10th consecutive year secretary
of state, being reelected the last time by ma
tority of more than three hundred thousand.
The American people favor agreements to
prevent future wars, Mr.. Jordon said in a state
ment to a newspaperman after his arrival in
the national capital, and will not approve Of
any partisan action that will again imperil
civilization.
The people of California are waiting until
those for and against the league have fought
the question out the floor Of the senate, :"
said Mr. Jordon who continued: IF vote were
taken in California today, it would be for rati-
favor agreements which will prevent wars in
the future They feel that the covenant will
have such force that nations will hesitate to
attack when this agreement between nations
is in existence The good faith of the nation is
pledged to the observance of its conditions, and
that faith will not be lightly broken. Nations
will hesitate to treat it as another scrap OF
paper.
America fought for civilization. and will
not approve of any partisan action at this
great moment which may imperil it again.
America needs a league of nations well
as England and France. There was moment
in the great conflict when the success of Ger
uzan arms meant possible disaster to our own
land. The day has passed when America can
take refuge in an attitude of selfish isolation.
President Wilson's Iabors in the interest of
lasting peace entitle him to the gratitude of
every peace-loving and fair-minded man, Mr..
Jordon asserts.
ize the superman," said Mr.. Jordon, whereas
Mr. Wilson is merely virfle American who
has devoted all his powers of heart and brain
for the upbuiIding OF what is intended to be
he OP destruction n
that barrier points of weakness may develop,
but what he has already done constitutes
restraining force which ought to make every
American feel that the welfare Of the people
of all nations has been safeguarded for the
future and for this much Mr. Wilson deserves
the gratitude of every fair-minded man" 4
Violation of the law of supply and demand
is largely responsible for the cost Of living
problem Mr.. JOrdOn thinks. The crux of the
food question lies in the fact that the law OF
supply and demand has not been allowed to-
follow its natural course" he said. Demand
for food is not variable, but the supply has
been manipulated to serve selfish ends. Allow
as much freedom for the operation of the sup
ply as for the demand, and prices must even
tualIy reach their proper level
That Senator Hiram johnson will receive
the vote of the California delegation for the
Republican presidential nomination next year
and that Senator James D. Phelan. Democrat
is stronger with the people of California than
ever before. were assertions made by Mr.. Jor-
don, discussing the political situation in his
state.
Senator Johnson undoubtedly will have the
support of the California delegation to the next
Republican national convention he said.
There will be opposition.
The senatorial contest next year will be
an interesting one. While California is nor
mally Republican the voters are not hidebound
and often break away, the Democrats being
Senator Phelan will be up for reelection.
That is certain and it is true that he is much
stronger today than four years ago. He has
made host of friends by his businesslike at |
tention to the requests of his constituents. He
is a Californian first and partisan afterwards. |
His stand on the Japanese question and his de- |
Tense of the oil and viticultural interests in |
his native state will never be forgotten. 1t !
will be a three-corered fight, but no |
matter what the final lineup is. he will be a |
formidable antagonist and those opposing him |
will have battle royal on their hands"