New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-20
An Ohio Vieu
Mr.. Wilson's League the Real Cam
paign Issue


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: To be or not to be, that Is the
question. Whether it were better to
remain great Independent nation, sub
jcct only to the laws of the represen-
tives of our own people, or whether
it were better to make ourselves sub
ject to the laws of an assembly in
which we have only one voice among
many
This, in belief, is the question to be
decided by the voters Of this country
in November. Senator Harding has
unequivocally declared himself for the
first iple-that this great nation
is and of right ought to continue to be
free and independents; that it is fully
and ably qualified to decide for itself
when and whether it shall take part
in any foreign controversies Governor
Cox has just as unequivocally at the
command of President Wilson, declared
that it is our solemn duty to become
one of league of nations; that in in
ternational affairs this country is no
| longer able or qualified to judge or
act for itself, but must act as the
council of the league, in which it is
only one of many. directs it to act.
However much the people of this
country may have wanted league of
nations of some sort before the Yer
saliles conference, however much they
may want league of nations of some
sort even~to-day, they do not want Mr..
Wilson's League of Nations, to which
Governor Cox has pledged himself. The
campaign this fall will not be a cam
paign of parties for and against the
league, even though the candidate of
one party is pledged to it's support, as
the candidate of the other party is
pledged against it; it will be cam
paign of principles, in which Governor
Cox will not have the united support of
his party even in his own state.
Let us look a moment into the Sr,1'
ato1lal primaries of that state ~ r
Julian was The organization Cox ckr d.
date, went into the race earlMl and
made an active campaign. JudgeIVNei]]
entered the race late and hsh/no or
ganlzation to support him, br.4/declarod
himself as unalterab.y oppolgi to Pres
ident Wilson'S League Of ,Natjons. In
spite of all his seeming Ia ,antaees in
total vote of 100000 Julian won
the nomination by only p 900 votes and
by this small major IT, only becaus So
OF the large vote nPiled up for him
in boss-ridden, graf Sridden Cincinnati
Counting the Re Publican vote as op-
p S9at o '@ it. it Xsud seem that just
ct the state primaries in Ohio were
IN favor of fMr. Wilson's League of
M .,' or brather, about one-sixth of
them vote xTfor it, We begin to Won
oer II A@ Democratic delegates as
sem0ied at> San Francisco were not
misled. nr at least, misinformed. when
they dominated Governor Cox as the
0nlkfman who could carry Ohio" Ap-
70" E'4tly the people of Ohio are not
'Ne} strong for the principles Cox rep
resents, however popular Cox himself
/t2(ay be-
Y There are other important policies
which must be decided in the next
four years-thc railroad and shipping
problems, the bonus question, the re-
adjustment of government finances and
hundred and one questions Of greater
or less Importance; but these questions
have all been withdrawn from the cam
palgn, to be determined later bv Con-
gress, whatever party controls it. But
Oh the League of Nations every voter
VIII have an opportunity to register
his opinion-by voting for Cox and
Roosevelt for it, and for an America
whose Constitution and government
shall be subordinate to league con-
trolled by foreign nations, or by vot-
lrg for Harding ard Coolidge against
1t. and for an America subject to the
Will OF her own citizens as expressed
in that Constitution which has made
this country the great country she y,
to-day.
CLERMONT CARTWRIGHT JR.
Akron, Ohio, Aug. Is, 1920.