The Washington herald., 1920-08-02
INV WILLIAM HOWARD TAFTJ

Copy right, 1870, by Public Ledger Col
In answering a number of in
ouiries how a Republican should
vote who regards the league of ma
tions as more important than any
domestic or personal issue Of this
campaign, / find 1t easier to aban-
don the usually impersonal tone Of
an editorial column.
was one Of a small group who,
in 1915, began the movement in this
country for a league of nations and
the participation of the United
States therein. II became president
of the League to Enforce Peace.
which was the form the government
took. / was active in spreading the
propaganda and urging that, as the
leAing and most powerful nation in
the world, 1t was our duty to unite
with other nations to prevent war.
When Mr.. Wilson brought to this
country the league covenant as re-
ported to the Paris conference
urged on the same platform with
him that we join the league.
thereafter recommended amend
ments, some Of which were adopted
into it's final form.
Would Have Voted for Ii.
Had ] been in the Senate l would
have voted for the league and treaty
as submitted; and l advocated its
ratification accordingly. l did not
think, and do not now think, that
anything in the league covenants as
sent to the Senate would violate the
Constitution of the United States or
would involve us in wars which IL
would not be to the highest interest
Of the world and this country -
suppress by universal boycott. and.
if need be, by military force. l con-
slider that the moral effect of Article
Y on predatory nations would re-
strain them from war as the dec
Iaration of the Monroe doctrine has
done and that the requirement of
the unanimous consent by the rep
resentatives of the great powers in
council before league action, would
safeguard the United States from
any perversion OF the high purpose
Of the league. Moreover, l believe
that the issue of the league tran
scends in it's Importance any do
mestic issues and would justify and
reuuire one who believes so to ig-
more party ties and secure this
great boon for the world and this
country.
Election Won't Settle 1t.
Why. then. l am asked, if these
are your convictions. do you not
vote for Gov. Cox, who is pledged
to carry out a platform the decla-
rations of which accord with your
views? My answer is that no such
issue as the ratification of the
league of nations as submitted can
possibly be settled in the coming
election. Only one third of the Sem
ate is to be elected. and but fifteen
Republican Senators out OF forty
nine can be changed. There remain
in the Senate, whatever the result
Of the elections. thirty-three Re
pubIicans who have twice voted
against the ratification OF the league
without the Lodge reservations. or
the fifteen retiring Republicans,
many are certain Of reelection.
Thirty-three votes will defeat the
league.
Mr.. Wilson refused to accept
ratification with reservation as TO
Article X and defeated the league.
The Democratic platform and Mr..
Cox insist that the league is value
less without Article X and pledge
a continuance of Mr.. Wilson's pol
icy. While l recognize the impor-
tance of that article, believe 1t to
be blindly foolish to sacrifice the
league for it. without it the league
will still be the greatest step for
ward in recorded history toward af-
fecting permanent peace.
Can't Get His Wish.
The League to Enforce Peace and
many Democrats urged Mr.. Wilson
to accept the reservations and en-
ter the league; but he refused. He
has thus deliberately forced this is
sue as to Article X into the cleo
tion, although il is mathematically
demonstrable that the only ratifica-
tion he or Mr.. Cox seeks is i'm
possible. Mr.. CoI's proposed reser-
vations are merely declaratory of
what the most extreme supporters
of the league admit to be its neces-
sary construction, or course, Mr.
Wilson has no objection to these
They do not change or qualify Ar
ticle x at all.
Why. then, should I vote for Mr.
Cox when he is pledged to that to
which I am utterly opposed? What
difference does IT make that as an
abstract question I favor the same
form OF league which he does, when
in fact he proposes to prevent the
only form of league which can pos
sibly be ratified. and one of in
estimable value to the world?
disappointed In Harding.
But 1t is urged upon me that in
view OF the Republican platform
and Mr.. Harding's speech OF ac-
ceptanCe there is no chance that
Republican success will bring the
league with the Lodge reserva-
tions. do OF conceal deep dis
appointment hat Nj Harding by