New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-02
The Only Issue

It is time to be serious about the
Presidential campaign. This coun-
try is in immediate need of perma-
nent peace and permanent pros
perity.
; The Democratic party, which
asks you to continue it in power, has
insured neither. Indeed, it has
: proved itself hcpelessly unable to
deal with the most critical situation
that has arisen since the days fol-
lowing the Civil War.
Nearly two years have passed since
the armistice was signed. The coun-
try is still carrying the burden i'm
posed by war conditions. BY its ar
togant insistence on it's own kind
@ Of League Of Nations or no league
at all, the Administrator has kept
us out Of peace when we ought to
have peace, exactly as it kept us out
Of war when we should have gone to
war.
BY keeping us out Of peace it has
kept US out Of prosperity. The fu-
ture Of the country ought to be Sc
cure. Instead it is uncertain. In
dustry ought to be able to look for
ward to settled conditions. Instead
It looks forward to chaos.
sa.H And Mr.. Cox, who asks you to
make him the next President, pro-
poses, instead Of remedying the mess
. his predecessor has made of the work
Of reconstruction, to continue the
exact policy from which this mess
= has resulted.
Mr.. Cox declares for the League
Of Nations as Mr.. Wilson brought 1t
from Versailles. Mr.. Wilson, with
: All his prestige, could not secure the
consent Of the country to such a
league. Neither can Mr.. Cox. And
Mr.. Cox knows that he cannot.
His devotion to the Wilson plan,
therefore, means a continuance. of
the deadlock, further drawing out
Of a struggle that has worn out the
patience of the people, while it has
imperiled the peace of the world.
Mr.. Cox, observing the country in
an intolerable condition, proposes
blindly to follow the policy that has
made it intolerable. He has no rem
edies to suggest, no ideas to put
forward. What was good enough for
the Wilson Administration is good
enough for him. And what was
good enough for the Wilson Admins
tration has set the country back
nearly two years, has denied US our
place in world affairs and has put
the business Of .the nation and the
people who compose the nation in
the most stupendous muddle in all
history.
Read Mr.. Cox's speeches. Read
them carefully. You will find not
one departure from the Wilson pro-
gram-only slavish adhesion to it.
It is as if an applicant to succeed
= manager who had bankrupted a
business promised faithfully if en-
ployed to pursue the methods that
had brought about the bankruptcy.
This country must not go bank
rupt- It has limitless resources.
Provide it with an intelligent admin
$ istration, and its future will be Sc
eure-secure for capital, for labor,
for the individual, for the family.
But the administration must be in
telligent. 1t must abandon visionary
experiments and half-baked theo-
ries. 1t must return to sound bust
ness methods.
- That means leadership-the resto-
ration Of leadership.
Mr.. Cox is not leader. He has
!. no experience in national affairs.
His willingness to voice unsubstan-
tiated and unsubstantial charges
proves that recklessness is his chief
characteristic. And this is no time
for recklessness In administration.
) i His declaration that he means TO
continue the League Of Nations con-
! troversy by being As stubborn as
Mr.. Wilson was proves how utterly
ine.reble he Il Of understanding the
temper OF the American people.
Mr.. Harding's utterances show an
!. understanding Of the needs Of the
ecuntry and q determination, If
.isIeeted, 70 supply these needs imme-
dlately and intelligently.
Every utterance Of Mr.. Cox shows
= purpose TO follow exactly in the
SDstb Of. an administration that has
ka1isnsed the United States before the
World and tangled ito internal If
tzairs almost beyond hope.
8 & 6i1ly talk about side issues does
5aace cloud the main issue, which IL
saappiys
s.. % you wasn't four more yesrs Of
z1subE uncertainty and hopeless