The daily banner., 1919-04-16
HOW THE PRESS LINES UP
Poll of 1,377 Editors Conducted by
Literary Digest Shows Large Ma
sJol1ty Favor Proposed League of
I NationS''

lHtefaIy Digest SHOWS Large Ma
jority Favor proposed League of
I Nations"
4 A poll of the daily newspapers of
the country published in the Lite
rary Digest of April 5, proves that
president Wilson knew what he was
talking about when he declared that
an overwhelming majority of the
American people is in favor of the
league of Nations."' The President
made this assertion in his speech in
New York, March 4th. Some of the
newspapers challenged his skill as a
dlagnostician of popular opinion. The
Literary Digest set about probing the
truth of his. statement by the only
method available. lacking {. popular
referendum. The results it dug up
are particularly valuable to those
who are working for a League in
this country, because it indicates
where their efforts should focus:
The Literary Digest put its ques-
tion in this form:
do you favor the proposed Lea
que of Nations?"
THUS all the answers referred spe-
cifcally to the League as outlined in
the Paris Covenant. Replies were
received from 1877 newspapers, and
from every par. of the United States.
of these, 1S1 voted NO" Ats de-
cided Eyes, conditionally. while
whole-hearted supporters OF the Lea
|gue numbered 71S-f1fty-nine' more
than the two other groups together.
Whether the whole decision were
left to the Republicans. to the Inde-
p1Rdents or to the Democrats, the
Ltague, according to the Digest's re-
port, would win. Out of 527 Repub-
lican votes cast. ia are Yes" 3O6
Eyes, conditionally," and only 107
NO" Among the Independents, 20 5
voted Yes" 81 "Conditionally," 8
"No." The Democrats declared them
selves overwhelmingly not only for a
League, but for the League: Yes" 4"
379; "Conditionally," IS; No" At.
In each one of the officially recog-
nized sections Of the country the re-
suit of the poll showed a majority
favorable 10 League; were the is
sue left to any one of the States the
result would be the same.
The following shows an analysis
of replies according to geographical
divisions:
New England Section-Yes, 40;
No, IA; Conditional, Al.
Middle Atlantic-Ies, 1872; Most;
Conditional, 104.
East North Central-Yes, 166; mo,
AS; Conditional, 1872.
West North Central-Yes, S5; No,
30; Conditional, 70.
South Atlantic-Yes, rs; No., IS;
Conditional, "a.
East South Centra-Yes, AS; No.
a; Conditional, Z.
West South Central-Yes, SS: No,
8; Conditional, 21.
Mountain-Yes, 80; No. 8; Con-
ditionaL 80.
Pacific ga; No, 20; Condi-
tional, 40.
All the Hearst papers oppose the
League Internationally. So do the
New York Sun, the New York Tele-
gram, the Washington Post. the Char
lesion American. the San Antonio
Light, the Buffalo Express, the Kan
sas City Star, and the Chicago Tri-
bune. But more than offsetting
this opposition is the unqualified sup
port of thirty-three of the larger
newspapers of the country, and the
conditional approval voted by seven
teen others.
The reasons given for approval or
opposition afford an Interesting
study. A statement made by one
editor in support of the League is
put forth by another to sustain his
objections. President Wilson's lea
dership has been sufficient to con-
vince many of the desirability of join
ing a League; while others have been
alienated by the Presidents attitude.
Again, Senatorial opposition has, in
some cases, made friends for the
League; in others it has aroused
doubt and disapproyal.
By far the most frequent objection
shown by the poll is the fear that a
League will destroy the Monroe Doc
trine; next in Importance comes the
fear of encroachment upon our ma
tional sovereignty. The subject OF
manufactures is seldom mentioned,
and objections based on economic
grounds are rare.
"Some of the opinions quoted" i"
continues the Digest, will be those
of small newspapers in small COM
munities, and certain type of read
er may retort, What do l care for
the views of the Bingville Bugle?
The Literary Digest cares greatly.
Half the people live in small COM