Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-18

era assert that the paramount issue OF
Tho campaign Is the League OF Nations'
As has been stated above, the MN
istcrs. the college professors, the writ
ers md the intellectual independents
generally are pro league and pro-CoS.
When you get down n stratum or TWO
lower In political information you md
a curious state Of things.
Varying Views on League
A leader of public opinion In Indian
apolis tells this story:
Among women OF moderate circum :
stances within a sewing circle that he
knows o. every member Of 1t wears a
COY button. Many were former Republi-
cans, He asked why they were for Cox;
HRecause of his League Of Nations" "
was the reply.
"Recause we don't want our sons
sent to Europe to fight again. came the
About the time Of this colloquy a
Republican politician had some women
M his house instructing them in the art
of voting. All were for Harding.
"Why we're they for HardingY"
because of the League of Ma
tions." ,
Nations2" was asked.
"Because we don't want our sons
sent to Europe to fight again. came
the same answer In the same words.
A young woman who does, women IS
news on one of the Indianapolis papers
brings in the word that the club womeh
yhom she meets are pro- league and In
rlining toward Cox. Especially do the
War Mothers, an organization strong
here. object to the separate peace with
Germany. Senator Watson has unfor-
emphasized that issue In his
even going so far on one oc-
rasion as to say that we were never
,ficially at war with Germany; but the
,lubwomen are limited in numbers and
not typical. They correspond generally
a the old fashioned independents among
he men voters. It is not surprising
hat they are ro-league.
To the mass Of voters the best infor-
nation is that Of a political reporter
,ere who has attended many meetings
md heard the league discussed before
he voters. He says the voters are in
crested in the league. They like to hear
{ discussed. Those who oppose It and
hose who advocate 1t get great at
ention and equal applause. Everybody
s In favor Of keeping out Of war, but
he public generally does not understand
he league and has not male up its
mind about It and except with com
,aratively small section Of the voters
he league Is not going to be the con-
rolling issue.
Taggart Secs Only Hope in League
Practical politician that ne Is, Thom-
IS Taggsst who, s,,a,. as candidate sS;o for the
crested in the election, sees in the
eague the only hope Of Democratic
and he thinks it is big hope.
As he sees 1t, 20 per cent Of the state,
few months ago, was pro league.
Then the Senate propaganda. as he de-
cribes II, confused the minds Of the
,oters. The public does not know now
where It stands on the league. but IL
an be re- educated. 1t can be brought
,ack to the state of mind in which
t was last winter. This can be done
n the short six weeks of campaign that
emain.
The league issue is as bad as the
'ound money issue raised in the 1906
1t Is technical. II requires
, lot of hard thinking. The league
ssue has not the advantage the sound
money issue had. 1t is not the big
issue of the campaign. A
great many voters do not think about
{ ut all. To their minds there is only
,ne issue. and that is to end Demo-
ratio rule.
1t will be interesting to see what
Mr.. Taggart can do with the league
ssue in the six weeks that remain. He
AN not talk to the Germans. the Sim
Fein Irish, the negroes, the habitually
PARTISAN Republicans, the voters who
,an see only one thing in this cam
,aign. the turning of the Democrats
,ut of Washington. Their minds are
'losed. And there are great many
If them, probably a majority of the