Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-26
The Question

Harvard: The precise question be-
fore the intelligent and conscientious
voter today is: For which candidate
shall vote. in the hope of restoring
my country TO its rightful position
among the naiions?'"
With ali due respect to the erudi-
ton CT President Eliot the precise
question may be stated more pre-
cisely this way: For which candi-
date shall vote, in the hope of re-
storing my country to a position of
stability and certainty at home so
that il may best assist less fortunate
nations abroad"
International relations. like chari-
~, begin at home We Americans
like to think and believe that our ma
ton is charged with the mission Of
inspiring hope and confidence in the
rest Of the world and that we may
and can. on occasion. be of material
assistance TO our neighbor world
powers But unless our own affairs
are orderly and well regulated and
cur immediate future reasonably de-
pendable. the United States is not in
good position to assume outside
ourselves: not ethicauy. for We are
as a people, favorable to the idea Of
taking part in a league of nations to
secure the permanent peace of the
world; we must be sure of our eco
nomic and industrial stability, for
On these we build the material fab
ric Of the nation.
President Eliot accuses the Repub-
iicAn managers of trying to shift the
main issue of the campaign from the
sentimental verdict on the league of
nations to the business interests of
the country. such as national admin
istrative economy. the labor prob
lem. reduced taxation and SO forth"
and says they are banking on woeful
ignorance among the American peo-
pie when they do SO. Farther on in
his speech he says: IF the league of
nations fails, there cannot be any re-
duction of national and State ex-
penditures or of taxation in the
United States. Or any satisfactory
settlement of the labor problem"
A categorical denial of this prop
osition would be impolite. but the
following from the report of the
league councils deliberations under
date of October q. opens up a line of
interesting thought:
No results of the discussions re-
garding the possibility Of finding a
substitute for the league Of nations
az mandatory for Armenia were re-
ported. The league has been
obliged to, decline because of lack of
force and Of funds to carry out
mandates"
Quoting again from President FL
lot: Good functioning by the league
of nations is essential to the restor-
alton Of Europe and therefore to the
prosperity of America" The league,
it must be admitted. is not function
ing well at the present time: it has
ma arfah ond cappo$ oft fc-
mia; it has not been efficient In deal
inE with Poland and Lithuania; il
has not even been able to effect a
settlement of the Aaland island ques-
ton. Its closest devotees must see
defects In a system that is 80 impo-
tent after more than a years trial
It is not fair to blame the non
participation Of the United States
for these failures: to say that II this
country were only in the league ev-
erything would work beautifully
That may be compliment to the
United States but it is not the truth
The American people have expressed
themselves onicially through their
representatives in the Senate and in
countless unofhcial ways as ready to
enter league of nations that gives
promise OF being practical and COM
petible with American principles.
Senator Harding and Governor Cool
idse stand for such league.