The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-03-18
Must We Join the League?

Secretary Daniels declares that II
America does not join the league of ma
tons II must build ''incomparably the
greatest navy In the world"
The Lincoln Star (Ind) indorses the
secretary's view, arguing that the
United States must be either for the
League or against it. We are, at pres
,ent, the only powerful nation outside
the league, and logically the task Of
supplying the antileague military
strength falls upon this country's Shout
Unless the United States is as strong
as the league Of nations" the Star ar
CUES, lit is subservient, in theory at
least to the league and might as well
be member of the league even though
at the great sacrifice which the OBJ
structionist senator's say it would mean
TO become party. II the United
States is not to become subseryient
there is but one road open, and that is
an Immensely enlarged navy and army
II we refuse to take place in the
league, declares the San Antonio Ex-
press und. Dem.). 'all the nations
would consider themselves required, in
'self-defense' to go on enlarging their
navies, with the result that such rivalry
would force the United States either
to outdistanee all other countries in
this respect, or sink to the position Of
second, third or perhaps fourth place
among the nations of the world The
Portland Oregonian Qnd. Rep) is of
the same mind, believing that "by ac-
| ceptng reasonable reservations we can
| obtain the predominant position in the
| league" and 'can escape the necessity
for a great navy" but that IF a
world-beating navy should become nee
essary responsibility must. be shared
/ BY the death battalion and the Wilson
| standpatters."
The country is at peace or at war"
! submits the New York World (Dem.);
there is no third condition. 1t must
seek peace or prepare for war" and
| the Dayton News (Dem) declares that,
out of the league, Americas isolation
| would be so complete and so hazardous
to the future of this country that hard
headed business men, as well as the
man who occupies an humber sphere
in the affairs Of the nation, can easily
imagine that the safety of America will
depend. in large measure on our sea
power. The Wicnita L,.,i,
points out that:
''All the powers that lately were our
associates in war owe us great sums
Of money, and many of them would be
glad of an excuse to quarrel with us
and refuse to pay their debts. If they
stroke. If we do not join the league
with them, they assuredly will join in
a league against us.
Besides the cost of building the larg
est navy in the world" the Albany Ar
gus Qnd. Dem.) reminds us, thousands
of our young men will have to be taken
J from the productive pursuits of peace
to man the extra warships,'' and the
Utica Observer Qnd) thinks it "un-
fortunate" that this nation, foremost
! in advocating arbitration, international
: courts and law, reductions of armies
and navies stands out against q
reasonable method for the peaceful set
! tlement of International bitterness and
J in favor of gun-toting by the nations
So much for the arguments in sup
port of Secretary Daniels position. or
the other side, the Fargo Forum (Rep.,
t denounces Mr.. Daniels as :our chic
lingo" pointing out that we need M
j great navy for defensive purposes,
since 1.-THE war with Germany demon
strated the impossibility of landing al
: army on hostile coast and maintain
ing it there" and that therefore "un
less Secretary Daniels plans to picl
scrap with Great Britain there II
no excuse for sinking hundreds o
millions in incomparably the creates