New-York tribune., 1920-07-29
The Idealist's Vote
Whv an Independent Believes 1t
Should Be Cast for Harding

Sir: i am hepuDl1CAn ana al lucai"
ist. I am moro of an idealist than q
partisan. I have never worn party
collar. Indeed, ! was Independent in
nv political thinking when that made
me a Mugwump. I voted for Wilson
the first time because / was ashamed
Of the public quarrel between Taft
and Roosevelt, and believed in the
scholar in pohtics. I did not vote for
Wilson the second time because he
sent out to all the clergy Of the coun-
try instructions to keep still and be
neutral about the war in Europe.
belong to group Of Christian min
on great public questions, national and
international, and we do not allow any
ecclesiastical or political authority to
button our lips, even though it be the
President of the United States.
As an idealist ( mean practical, not
philosophicaD, how do want to vote {?
AS a Republican and an idealist will
do the country and the party any
good by voting the Democratic ticket
because the Republican platform and
speech of acceptance have not pre-
scnted as strong moral issues as l
would like to have them?
ha1iavo tbo+ v,o,,,o,, L,~z
to suffrage, but twenty-nine of the
thirty-five states that have voted for
the Nineteenth Amendment are Re-
publican.
I believe in the Eighteenth Amend
ment, which was adopted by all but
three states in the Union, but the
Democratic candidate has trained with
the vets and has never shown any
sympathy for the cause Of prohibi-
tion.
I believe In the sacredness Of the
home, but the Democratic candidate
was divorced by his first wife, and
we have never yet had a divorced man
in the Presidential chair.
pie, but we have had in the Presi-
Dental chair for the last seven wears
ar autocrat who has wrested the law
making power from the department of
government where the Constitution
places it, and the new Democratic can
didate says he is absolutely in ac-
cord with the present President More
over, Tammany had it's own way at
San Francisco, and l can't reconcile
Tammany and idealism or Tammany
and government by the people. Can
you, gentle reader?"
l believe in open diplomacy instead
OF Wilsonian secrecy in home affairs.
l believe that in the World War
Germany was wrong from the start,
and believe that every intelligent and
informed leader who cared more for
right than for political success spoke
out squarely against Germany's pol
icy and behavior. Cox didn't. Was
he ignorant or working for the politi-
cal support of German sympathizers Z?
Whichever is the answer I can't vote
for him.
| believe in internationalism for the
welfare of humanity, but President
Wilson's assumption that he alone has
the heart and the mind to bring that
to pass is not verified by his treat
ment of the negro citizens of the
United States, nor does the Democratic
party's treatment of them indicate that
there is any hope of their getting
their rights while that party is in
power If the Democrats won't give
self determination to e-tenth of their
own fellow citizens, isn't it presumptu-
ous for them to assume the welfare
of all the peoples of the world?
was delegate to the International
Congregational Council at Boston a
month ago. Most of the British and
American speakers wanted League of
Nations, and the American delegates
put themselves on record in favor of
it, but not one of them mentioned a
single condition or requirement Of
such league. So far as what they
said was concerned they were idealists
with a vengeance-up in the air with
nothing under them that anybody could
see except daylight. Moreover, has
there yet been one reason given or
enc thing accomplished which indicates
that Wilson's method is the only wise
one by which to establish a League
of Nations?
AS an idealist believing in woman
suffrage, prohibition, the home, gov
ernment by the people, open diplomacy,
the frank and continued recognition
of Germany's awful wickedness, and
internationalism for the welfare of
humanity, cannot vote for Cox, who
represents no moral principle politi-
cally; and I can vote for Harding, who
frankly believes in the government of
the United States by the people and
writes his acceptance with transparent
honesty.
How can an idealist vote for Cox?
ELWELL o. MEAD,
Gilbert Memorial Congregational
Church.
Georgetown, Conn, July 20, 1920.