Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-02
LOGIC OF EVENTS WILL
FORCE US INTO THE LEAGUE
Senator HardIna's Cautious Program 10
Becoming Visible Through the Dust
Of Political Conflict

|
discussion Of the subject in and out Of Con
colored BY the approach of a presidential
| election.
II the war had ended year earlier Of
two years later there would have been les
political partisanship in the consideration
Of the peace treaty.
The Republicans would not have sought
so diligently to make political capital out Of
the blunders of the President, nor is Il
likely that they would have been so hyper
critical In their attitude toward the League
Of Nations covenant.
To admit this is not to condemn the Re-
pubficans above all other sinners. If the
tables had been reversed the Democrats
would have been playing the role filled by
the Republicans. They condemned the con :
duct of the Spanish war and its settlement
more bitterly than the Republicans have
condemned the course Of the administration
in the world war. While the Spanish war
was in progress they did their best to inter-
fere with its successful prosecution. even
going to the extent of voting almost unani-
mously against necessary appropriations.
And when the war was over they waged a
presidential campaign on the issue Of un >
doing what had been done.
1t is the curse OF partisan politics that
II leads otherwise intelligent and fair
minded men to denounce everything that the
opposition does and to commend everything
done by their own party. 1t becomes
ceedingly difficult for the voter interested in
results to find his way in the thicket of half
truths and unfair statements which surround
him, especially during the heat of presi.
Dental campaign.
The man who has some understanding of
the world situation and the inevitable rela-
t!o1 OF the United States to it and caa face
tie outstanding facts IS persuaded today
tsat tbs county :2ust Inevitably enter tie
league o. Nations :. soG.e :o..:. -ae logic
ot events, ws!cE IS stroaser r.sG ssy parr:-
sa2 novrhi-- o: either side. Will force US
in. Aad whea the presidential campaign
is over are likely TO stop talking non
sense on the subject and prepare to, adjust
ourselves to meet our International ohliga-
tions with the full copsciousncss that our
national interests also are involved in what
we do.
1t Il evident that Senator Harding appre-
ciates this fact. 1t is evident also that
the eIigencies of the political campaign are
forcing him to be cautious about the way in
which he sets forth his views. When he
says that The Democratic nominee has
fatty said he is in favor of going in on the
basis announced by the President: / am
not he echoes the partisan debates in the
Senate and rallies to his support those who
are opposed to Wilson and to wisconsin
lie makes a concession to partisan politics
But in the speech which contained this re-
mark, Senator Harding definitely announced
his support of an association OF society or
league of nations organized to secure inter
national justice and to prevent war. He
also said that he believes in an international
court with teeth that shall settle all justi-
ciable questions. He went even farther when
he recognized what has happened and said
that IL the League of Nations is so ineItric-
ably interviewer with the affairs of Europe.
the condition must be faced by this country
Then. after calling attention to the fact
that European statesmen have discovered
defects in the league covenant, he announced
that he would summon the best minds of the
country to confer with him in order to de-
wise plan under which we shall do our
part in correcting those defects as a pre-
liminary to cooperation with the rest OF
the world. He has said lot of other things
which are open TO criticism, but they do not
affect this sound and sane program.
Elihu Root in London is reported as be-
ing astounded by the senator's speech con-
tanning these suggestions. Mr.. Root
has been engaged as member of a com
mttee of lawyers In drafting a plan for an
international court to function under the
provisions OF the league covenant. Under
the circumstances any suggestions that Mr..
Harding really favored a court to supersede
the league would naturally disconcert Mr..
Root. No one need be surprised II Mr.. Root
when he returns to this country should en-
ter upon the task of explaining what the
international court Is and how 1t fits into
the program which the Republican candidate
has sketched In outline,
The weakness Of The Hague tribunal lies
in the lack of body of accepted interna.
tional rules which 1t Is commissioned to en-
force. The strength Of the international
court with the framework Of which Mr..
Root has been engaged lies In the fact that
it il to be empowered to carry out the reg
ulations Of the covenant of the league.
IL our own Supreme Court had no con.
stitution and body of laws to interpret and
enforce, it would be Of little use to any one
The thinking OF the world has advanced Ia
the point where II recognizes the necessity
for body OF regula tions governing interna-
tional affairs and tribunal to enforce those
regulations. We cannot fall back on The
Hague court, nor can we very well adopt
Mr.. Harding's suggestion that it be
strengthened. To do this would require us
to undo the work Of the peace conference.
which provided for a real court with author. =.
ity to summon delinquents to answer for
ths violation Of the provisions of the cove
nant of the nations represented by the court.
II we may trust advices coming from Lon
don, Mr.. Root will not only back up Senator
Harding's support of a great international
court, but will also justify his criticisms of
the league covenant. Laurence Hills, the
London correspondent OF the Sun and New
( {