The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-20
stood, although less accurate. Il
League Of Nations.

stood although less ACCURATE lhe
League Of Nations.
The large number OF Republican
senators and leaders including such
men as Elihu Root. Senator Smoot.
Senator Hale. Senator Colt. Herbert
Hoover, former President TAFT ana
others, believe strongly in an asso'
citation Of nations 2pproximating the
League Of Nations in the purpose or
reducing arInamcuts and maintaining
peace. although differing from IT ma
terially in form. y smaller group "t
Republican senators III the East OPP
pose them. But both the quantity ana
the degree Of this opposition Is exas-
gerated.
For example, Senator Borah Is COM
monty and correctly listed as an "!r-
concilahle." 1t IS true that al! h;S
public activity in IT gard to the League
OK Nations has been an effort !" oeAI
IL. but it IL also true that Senator
Borah has always had in mind an a.
tentative which he regards as better
adapted 10 maintaining peace and %hlch
does not diner too materially from the
alternative IN the mind OF Mr.. Root.
Others Of the Su-,'all"I "irrecOnct-
ables" arr III the Sam. position.
weak Position OF tho <xtrerndEts.
After these have been eliminated.
however. there does remain number
able and nothing more. They are
'aEinners" and do not accept any re-
sponsihility for an affirmative or con-
structive alternative TO the League or
Nations. Their position is either that
they believe that war cant be pre-
vented and that no step toward pre-
venting il Is desirable, or else that
their political position III regard 1"
their ownd constituencies Is such thai
their most eXpedient course is opposi-
ton solely.
Whether there are enough or thcs"
extreme irreconcilables to make head
way against the larger humber who
believe in an association OF nations
remains to be seen. The greater like
lihood is that this small group vii!
turn out to be in so weak a position
that they will not feel encouraged to
make much Of fight.
The reason for this likelihood lies
in what is the most obvious and I'M
portant of the conditions that Senator
Harding will find in this country
When he makes a survey of things for
himself That condition is the wish
for harmony. the dislike for conten-
tlousnesS. Whenever So large Erour
OF people and so large a numbcr or
differing factions. unite. as they oid
unite, in the election Of Harding, IL Is
a sign OF a general unanimity "t pnr-
pose and Of mood. 1t means n most
unusual amount Of agreement upon
the part Of the public AS TO what II
wants. The public mood which eN-
pressed itself in this way Is going TO
be easily irritatcd by any leaders VINO
try To capitalize contention.
Universal Disposition Toward
Harmony.
This disposition toward harmony
CharacterizcS not only the Repubii-
cans. but the Democrats "a we'll
Nothing - more apparent in Wash
inrton than the disposition Of the
Democrats to aid in what Is TO DC
done rather than to fall in with Inc
notion Of ,ohstruCting merely because
obstruction is the traditional function
of the opposition party.
Tho two foremost Democratic lead
crs-t:ov. Cox and Mr.. McAdoo--have
both given public expression or the
wish TO facilitate the new Presidents
work. and have publicly rebukcd those
minor Democratic leaders who seem
disposed TO adopt the traditional poiicy
Of obstruction. The Democrats IN INC
Senate and the House arc decidedly
with these two national leaders In this
disposition to help in the difficult
times ahead rather than to ohstruct-
The net of all this is that with the
strength OF the franChis" given him
by so large vote. coupled with tue
disposition OF Democrats to help NM
Senator Harding Is in an enormoaSi a.,
strong poSition The public notion "i
Senator Hardings personality is that
his lOliry and his temperament arc
all for harmony. This is true enough
But il IL also true that, due TO ciT-
cumstances too minute. 10 so mo
here. the public has not been MADE
acquainted with the possibilities or
extreme tirmnrss that are also in Nr'
Harding'S pcronality.
Tn" very fact that a t"mpcram"nt
Is disposed toward harmony makes
Il equally disposed TO be irtoicrant or
persons who fomcnt lack ofharmony.