Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-09-10

ROOT DUMFOUADED AT HARDlNG'S SPEECH

SS'"s SS'SeS ~ hFNhSNV " VI SLVu
From The Philadelphia Public
Ledger (RepD:
Mr.. Alderman cabled us a piece
of news yesterday morning which
will give many Il stunch Republican
can SeriOnS food for thought. He
said:
Ii would not aStoniSh London if
Elihu Root declined to back Sena-
tor Hardins's proposal that an as
SociatiOn OF free nations be formed
about the international court which
the committee of international jur-
lists recently planned at The Hague.
doubt whether anyone was more
dumbfounded than Americas dis
|tinguishcd former Secretary of State
when he read in the British papers
long accounts of Senator Harding's
speech to the Indiana deputation.
There have been rumors for some
weeks that the Republicans were
planning platform on the League
to be built up on Mr.. Roots inter-
national court; but is has not been
taken seriously here, principally
because Mr.. Root himself has not
encouraged it and because Mr..
Root, in his present position; is an
appointee of the present League of
Nations and for the moment an Of
llcial Of that League.
Mr.. Root is not quoted; but il
will be noted that there are sever
al positive statements regarding
him in this dispatch. Mr.. Acker-
man says that he was "dumbfOund-
cd' when "he read in the English
papers long accounts of Senator
l1ardings speech to the Indiana de-
putation." This definitely and cat
egorically dispoSes of the theory
that Mr.. Root was consulted in ad-
vance and approved of the new
Harding policy.
The fact that the new Root court
depends upon the League machin-
cry for the selection of its Judges,
among other things, would moi have
acted as a hindrance to its employ
ment as the pivot of a new League
policy, were Mr.. Harding bound to
lind one. 1t would rather have
been strong reason why it should
nave been chosen. Such a choice
would have saved Mr.. Harding from
the uncomfortable necessity of
swallowing his own record in the
Senate, from the tactical blunder OF
slapping every sincere League be-
never III the face and from en-
barking in SO whole-souIed fash
ion in the Johnson-Borah-He Hearst
pirate craft
No one will doubt the Republi-
canism of Elihu Root. He is, more
over, practical politician. He
knows as well as anybody the
party wisdom of so expressing the
Republican position on the League
issue as not to ALLEVIATE needlessly
those backward Americans who are
still fearful of "Old World entangle-
ments."
But Il is clear that out-and-out
rejection of the League does not
meet his approval. He has taken
great part in creating one of the
most important organs of the
League. Yet this splendid personal
achievement his Permanent Court
OF International Justice entirely dis
appears if the League is dissolved.
II is a good court that Mr.. Root
and his colleagues have created.
II IS a far better court on many
counts than The fecbleHague Tri-
bunal. Root is Republican, and
mere was not even a party reason
mat we can see for pointedly omit
ting the mention of his name or his
court from the Republican candi-
dates discussion of an internation-
al court substitute for the League.
NO wonder Root was "dumbfound-
cd'! There were plenty Of Rcpub-
Leans "dumbfounded" on this side
CT the Atlantic.