Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-08-13
BIG BUSINESS FOR WAR.

Bib 6USiNtSS fUK WAX.
Under the above, the New York
World INDUCES in a strong plea for
the League of Nations, such as
ought to be convincing enough. 1t
follows:
SIN spite Of the fact that the one
great purpose of the League of Ma
tons is TO prevent war, all Repub-
llcan factions are now. shouting in
unison the untruth that it is certain
TO result in aggression and strife.
When falSehood is applied to mat
terS Of such moment as this the
people are entitled in common fair
ness to ask for reasons.
There is hardly a leader of the
Republican Party. aside from the
Hiram Johnsons, La Follettes and
BorahS, who has not at one time
or another Endorsed the principle
of the League. Most of the great
churches, the faculties and students
OF the principal universities, the
American Federation of Labor,
many literary, scientific and cdu-
catlonal SOciticS, several orgainZa-
lions OF farmers and some OF the
leading non-political commercial
bodies of the country have APPROX
ed the League by resolution or pc
titioncd the Senate in its favor.
Outside of few radical groups and
The politicians who cultivate them
the support of the proposition has
been all but unanimous.
We are not to forget, however,
That the Republican Party is the
party of Big Business. a powerful
element in Business has been in
partnership With the standpal Re-
publican management for more
than Il generation. From that
source the party's campaign chest
has been filed. In return for the
millions thus contributed. Rcpub-
lican Congresses and Presidents
have dutifully registered ilr-thcir
financial, tarifl and subsidy laws
the will OF the interests that have
sought TO make money the controll-
ing power in government.
If that portion of Big Business
which is kncedcep in corrupt poll
tics were convinced that the League
20 ant al anu COIL
tlnuancc OF present conditions the
covenant would have no more en-
thusiaStic advocate. 1t would have
forced the ratification of the treaty
long ago. Every profiteer in Ameri-
ca is infatuated with war. Extray-
agance, imitation, uncertainty, dis
order, increase his gambling gains.
TO him the armistice was calam
ity. In the delay Of peace and in
the prospect OF new wars, which
the League of Nations, properly
ftlnctioning, would forestall. the
proliteer has rcaped, a rich harvest
already and sees greater abundance
in the future.
This is why the Old Guard Re-
publican leaders, rallying TO their
SIDE all who can be influenced BY
the mcaneSt craftsmanship. and sub
ordlnating patriotism and HUMANITY
10 Inc one idea of rcSainfng con
troll of affairs at Washington. have
refused to share responsibility III
the peace, ami by abandoning our
associates in war have placed an
everlasting stigma on American
honor. Furthermore. this is whv
me Republican Party'S stodgy can.
dldatc for The Presidency faces
pom ways on the important dues.
Ion before mankind. and by mis-,
representing the altitude of his own
Government and the Governments
OF nearly all other civilized nations
plays into the hands of the pro
icSsional warnlakcrS and their lin.
dcrstudics. the professional prof.
tccrS.
Let nobody mistake The reason
Tor the attitude OF this section OF
Big Business. II is opposed to q
guaranteed peace. II prefers war
commercial and military. II knows
mat the League of Nations is mol
gong TO involve us in strife. What
IL fcars IS that the League of Ma.
IONS VIII promote not ONLY peace
but political and economic Justice
which would be fatal to vast OK.
pcnditrrcs for armament and sure
death to cui-lhroat tariffs and 9th.
er trade determinations. Tho
| United States will never know q
real peace while his spirit is domi.
nant in its polilics.-N. y. World
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