The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-10-28
as to whether the United States will

as 10 whether the United states viii
cast in It's lot with the rest Of the
world in the attempt to settle dis
putes by law rather than by war Is
to be decided next Tuesday.
Because IL Is a consideration Of
the cause Of humanity and civiliza-
ton rather than Of partisan politics,
many people, leaders and thinkers
in all parts Of the country
are announcing themselves for en-
trance to the League without regard
TO former party affiliations. How
ever, TO change ones vote and mark
his ballot under a different device
from that under which he has always
voted is difficult for many people TO
do. So a rather extraordinary de-
vice has been introduced to be used
to satisfy the consciences Of those
republicans who are for the League
and yet wish to continue to vote for
the grand old party. They tell us
that the best way to vote for a
thing is TO vote against Il. Or, in
other words, that a vote for Mr..
Harding is a vote for the League.
Now there is absolutely no justi-
fcation in Mr.. Harding's public ut
terances for the belief that he HIM
self will stand for the League Of
Nations. Those who maintain that
his words may be so construed are
merely begging the question. The
ridicule he has heaped upon It, the
plain statements he has made place
him unquestionably against the evil
son League" with or without reserva-
lions. Why should so much "con-
strung be necessary when in
word the candidate might say that
he is for the League with reserva-
lions, a thing which he has never
done? He declared in his speech Of
acceptance that the League is dis
credited and ineffective. He has
since advocated scrapping the League
and in his Des Moines speech he
said, IT am not for Qualification, but
for rejection" He has said "Cox is
for going in, am for staying out"
/ IL is upon such statements that Sen
ator Johnson and Borah and every
body else opposed to the League are
supporting Mr.. Harding. Senator
Johnson, speaking Of the Republican
candidate at Baltimore last Friday
used these words:
"He characterized the League as
"a military alliance which meanaces
peace and threatens all freedom.
He called il the supreme blunder'
and asserted that he would leave
America free, Independent and self.
reliant, but offering friendship to al
the world
IT am unable to understand the IN
tellectual processes which can misin
terpret or misconstrue these words
and I do not appreciate the friend
ship of individuals who still insist
that the words are meaningless ant
that Senator Harding intends some
thing else than he says"
Senator Borah said, October 9Th
81 am opposed to any association
combination. society or league Of ma
lions. Senator Harding has heard
me discuss the matter for the last
eighteen months and he ought to un
derstand my position thoroughly
Mr.. Harding said, October 3rd:
T approve what William f. Borai
said in his public addresses. He viii
continue to make speeches for the
Republican ticket and I am sure
shall always approve what he says
to the voters in the future"
The lineup of the two candidates
for and against the League is unmis
taxable and is so recognized by thu
whole country.
But recent writers in our own pa
per. The Citizen. men whom we low,
ard respect most highly and to whom
we grant full honesty in their opin
ions. tell us that to vote for Mr.
Harding is the best way to vote fol-
the League because the Senate will
ratify the Treaty for Mr.. Harding
but would not do so for Mr.. Cox
These gentlemen forget that after
the election the verdict of the natior
will be before us. II Harding Is
elected president, the people will
have said, 1--WE want no League
Even II he changes his position anC
desires ratification, the voice Of the
people will be before him, 1--WE want
no League" johnson and Borat
and others will be reminding him
1--WE want no League" II is un-
thinkable that he will advocate rati'
fcation after the prediction posi-
tions he has taken. He would be
despicable II he did. And yet II Mr.
-