The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-24
AMERCANPEOPLE
ARE Strong FOR
LEAGUE NDPEACE
Victor MCNaught Says That
Sentiment in Sections Is for
Observation-Disclosures Is No
General Opposition. =
BY Motor M'NAuoHT,
Especial correspondent.)

ST. LOUIS, March 22.-It Is my pur-
pose to tell as briefy as possible the
state of public sentiment on the pro-
posed league OF nations, as l found II
on talking with business men, farmers,
professional men. artisans and editors
on a visit to nearly all the principal
cities between New York and st. Louis.
This is what L learned; a.
i. The bitterness, amounting almost
to violence OF expression, which char
acteri2es the debate In the East 10
lacking III the Central and Middle
| Western states.
2. In these parts, neither the presl-
dent, on the one hand, nor the oppos-
condemned. Nearly all of the princi-
pals in the discussion are given credit
for patriotic and hlgh-minded pur-
poses,
| g. The great masses OF the people
are for the league Of nations. as pro-
posed, with the best of the amend
ments that have been suggested by
Senator Lodge and former President
Taft. A.1 y, "
4 The only sure. way to make the
league generally acceptable to- the
American people Is to amend 1t. Nearly
ali thoughtful persons, wish to preserve
the Monroe Doctrine, to limit Americas
police activities so far as possible to
the western hemisphere, to be sure that
America can not he dragged into a for.
elgn war against the, popular. viii. and
10 see that the league constitution Is
drafted in terms so plain that there
can be no misunderstanding as TO theif
meaning,
s, The good will and kindly feeling
Of the great mass OF American people
for the British. the French and the
other allies may be taken for granted,
6. There Is a rapidly growing dispo.
sition to regard the league project as
a nonpArtlsan issue, and to consider II
without reference to President WILSON'S
part in drafting II.
II is an interesting fact that the
measure OF its most intelligent support
from Republican and independent Re-
publican newspapers. The ST.. Louis
Globe-D Democrat, for example, one OF
the most regular of old-line, party pa
Tho Chicago Daily News, which sup
ported Judge Hughes for the presidency
In 1915. Is proleaEue,. The Indianapolis
News, an influential conservative news
paper, advocates the adoption Of the
league program, with the best Of the
delphia inquirer, a Republican news
paper, and the Philadelphia Public
Ledger, one OF the foremost opponents
Of sane and substantial American
thought,
Chicago Daily News, said: THE league
is coming. and we are supporting II
The president was wrong In his treat.
nlent OF the senate. and the senators
can not be blamed for resenting his
methods. Senator Lodges suggestion
must be considered"
This is the opihion of Richard Smith
editor OF the Indianapolis News: "Th'
league is in popular favor, because !
aims to end war, The people are sicl
OF war, and this plan is favored b,
their sentiment, How can you argue
against "A popular emotion? II a. no
{ highest credit TO Senators Lodge, Kno'
; and others like them for all of thel
suggestions as to changes and amend
: ments, but we do not countenance tn,
. opposition OF senator's and others win
! were against the war and who oh
, 1.-the war"
1 y There is q marked difference In IN
popular attitude toward Senators Lodg
and Knox, on the one hand. and Sen
( the other, There is little sympath
fer the latter Eroup. An editoria
paragraph in a Detroit raper sums VI
X tho sentiment thus: Senator Bora
n has started out to stump the countr
against the league OF nations. Senate
= Borah Is worth seeing" d
q The St Louis Times, n R%epublica
d paper. and the only newspaper In y
$ Louis to oppose the league, printed
day or two ago two columns of inter
views with IS citizens. Thirty favore
the league, and eight opposed. Abot
half OF the GO said that anything II
president wanted was good enough Il
+ them. The other half advocated n
league constitution, with amendment
+ The business and professional men {
a small Ohio city gathered at the
club to hear the league plan explaine
Y by an expert, who expressed no pc,
q sonsl view, After his talk a vote wa
taken. II favored the league by a rat
y Of seven to one. Nearly all the me
l. nresent were Republicans.