The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-04-09
Mr.. HARDWlcK PRESENTS Mr..
REED

que of nations and the present admin
istration, the following from the Sa-
vannah Evening Press may throw
some light on Senator Reeds past his.
tory. The Press says:
There was class of statesmen who.
when their country needed them, in.
dulged in idle criticisms of the presi-
dent and attempted to prevent their
country from assuming manly atti-
tude in the greatest crisis of its his
tory. These men have poured out
poisonous gases upon the administra-
ton and its defenders; hampered
their country when the war clouds
were about US. and have since been
loading the government with all pos
sible contumely They were not help
full in war. They have proven them
selves hurtful in peace. The Missouri
statesman has drawn about him a CO.
tere of supporters, some democratic,
some republican, but the chief of them
all is James A Reed, of Kansas City
Senator Reed, in his Atlanta speech
Monday night, under the cover of at
lacking the league of nations, made a
bitter attack upon the Wilson admin
istration. For some reason best known
to himself, he has been an implaceable
enemy of the democratic administra-
ton for the past three years. He
earnestly opposed the war measures
in 1877, and had it been left to the
support and advice of Senator Reed,
the European struggle would have ter
minated very differently and the Unit
ed States would have been left to
fight Germany singly and alone. He
has allowed his antipathy to President
Wilson to color his whole career. He
has forgotten his duty to his country
in the greatest crisis of the govern
ment and has played into the hands
of his pro-German constituents in Mis-
souri, until his record has become a
by-word and reproach. So notorious
was his position that the Americans in
his own state refused to listen to him,
and it is not believed he could poll a
respectable vote for any office in the
state which he misrepresents in the
United States senate.
Senator Reed was introduced to the
Atlanta public in his speech Monday
night by former Senator Thomas w
Hardwick, who paid high compli-
ment to the abilities of the Missouri
man and introduced him as "the fore
most defender of true Americanism
and of free government under the con-
stitution'
After such chaperonage we can all
understand what kind of TRADE was in
store. Senator Reeds stock in trade
was criticism of the president and
arrangement of Great Britain. This
kind Of Clap-trap is very cheap. If
any man wants to raise cheer, he
ilas only to twist the lions tail and
show that England is trying to control
the United States. This has been the
sum and strength of small politicians
for hundred years, and it. is just the
kind of vaporing one would expect
from a man like Senator Reed. His
convincing argument was to show that
England would have six votes in the
league, while America would only
have one.
Now, as a matter of fact, everyone
who has studied the league of nations
knows that America could influence
just as many votes as Great Britain
The older British colonies, which are
self-governing and each year becomin
more independent, resent the idea
that Great Britain could control their
votes in the league of nations. And
yet, the United States which was al
ways friend and champion of home
rule and local self-goyernment. is ask'I
ed to deprive these colonies OF, their
vote and force them into English dom
nation AS a matter of fact, the
United States, which was always
friend and champion of home rule and
local self-government, is asked to de,
prive these colonies of their vote and
force them nto English domination.
AS matter of fact the United States
would influence as completely the
votes in the league of nations of Cuba,
Haiti, Central and South American re
publics, as Great Britain could control
the votes of Canada, Netherland, Aus
tralia and South Africa. Senator Reed
understands all this perfectly, but he
uttered no word in his Atlanta speech
which would induce one to believe
that he knew anything about it. All
of this thing reminds us of the oppo-
Sition of one ITnitad Ctafac conafor