Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-03-10
SENATORS DElUGED
WITH LETTERS ABOUT
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
Majority Of People Writing
To Washington, Favor
World Constitution.
By L. Q. Martin

Unlteu FreSS SldII correspondent
Washington, Mar. 10.-The Ameri-
can people are responding eagerly to
President Wilson'S invitation to dis.
cuss the league of nations.
While controversies over war poll
cies drew tremendous number of let
ters, nothing in the memory of men
now in congress equalled the present
avalanche of mail at their offices
Senators haven't been able to head
half the letters addressed to them on
the subject, they said today. But what
letters have been read show one thing
clearly-that the country realizes the
vast Importance of the question
Four Glasses Received
Forty seven hundred letters chosen
from the files Of is senators, represent
ing every section Of the country and
both political parties, readily asserted
themselves in four classes.
First, those unqualifiedly for the
league, as now proposed, 1928.
Second those for the league, wlCa
qualifications 1910.
Third, those expressing no opinion,
but asking information, 264.
Fourth, those unqualifiedly against
the league in its present form, 1908.
More than half the letters in the
first class came from professional and
business men, clereymen, scholars. edu-
Gators, lawyers, writers-mcn and wo-
men alike-and many big business men
approve very heartily OF
the draft of the league constitution as
it now stands The rest Of the letters
in the first class based their approval
on faith in President Wilson. 1t may
be significant that most of the letters
in class one came from the east, New
England and the south.
Came from West
The vast bulk Of the other three class
es came from the middle and far west.
Through the "class two" letters ran
the strain "we want an end to war
but and the writer's then express
ed in various ways their fears that the
proposed league would enmesh the
United States too deeply in foreign af-
fairs, The Monroe doctrine, American
and all the other objec-
tions already urged were covered in
these letters. Many of them complain
ed that President Wilson 3 attitude is
that of man assuming superior Wis
dom and unwilling to come down to
cuses in giving reasons for various
provisions,
Teachers Seek Information
Glass three, the smallest, came large
" from. school teachers and women
generally. Men apparently have made
up their minds rather thoroughly on
the league. The information asked was
chiefly along the lines of the objections
raised against the league in the SEN
ate.
Glass four contained some bitter let
ters. In them President Wilson was
assailed senators critics.
ing the league were applauded, and in
a number more or less thinly yelled
threats were made against the govern
ment il the league compact is ratified.
Most of the letters Of this class, how
ever, struck the same note that ran
through all the others let US pre-
vent war forever"
Scores Of the letters Offered substi-
tutes for the proposed league, ranging
from policy of complete American
isolation, maintained by force, if nee
essary, to policy of diplomacy, the
chief feature Of which would be keep
ing European nations constantly in
rows with one another so this country
would be let alone.