Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-08-07
FUSE IS TOUCHED
OFF BY HARDING,
SAYS LAWRENCE
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

MARION, Ohio, Aug. Ex-senator
Harding has touched off a fuse in
the presidential campaign that is,
more than likely to burn the fingers
of both the Republican and Demo-
cratic candidates If they don't watch
out. For admittedly the question or
prejudices and wishes of the foreign
born voters in America is one of the
most delicate of all political sched-
ules to handle.
The senator in his front-porch
speech to Wayne county Repupllcans,
struck out boldly against the League,
of Nations as world eXperlmaeho
American citizenship because, as he
said, it is folly to think of trying
to blend aliens in American unity
when the land of their adoption sits
in judgement on the lana from WHICH
they came"
Nations has been attacked on. the
ground that it would cause friction
among foreign-born residents in the
United States and defended o.. on the
being the useful factor in mediat-
ing disputes abroad. But the in
teresting thing is that in both the
Republican and Democratic campaign
headquarters there are to be found
this year, as in every other presi-
Dental contest, certain bureaus de-
signed to corral the foreign-born
vote.
To the Irish voters, the Republi-
cans are appealing for support on
the theory that the League of Ma
tions somehow, through Article x,
requires America to support Eng
land as against Ireland. This the
Democrats stoutly deny, asserting
that Article XXI in the league cove
nant would enable America for the
first time to approach England Of
ficially and make the matter of Irish
self determination an international,
instead of a domestic question, as
England claims it is.
TO the Italian voters, the Repub-
licans are appealing for support be-
cause of president Wilson's supposed
antipathy to Italian aspirations in
the Fiume question. The Democrats
probably would be happy to see the
Fiume controversy settled to enable
them to point to Italy's acceptance
of a settlement as a proof of Italian
approval of the concert of nations.
To the German voters. the appeal
than an emphasis on wisconsin,
which still is an abhorrent term
among those COMMUNICATIONS who
felt that American participation in
the war was unnecessary or among
those who thought the accusation of
"hyphenate" was too loosely applied.
On the other hand, If the German
born voters were Influenced by the
wishes of the country of their birth,
they would side with the Democrats
tions established, because it is a fact
that Germany fully expected the
United States to be a member of
the .all-important reparations COM
mission and to help keep down the
size Of the indemnity.
Looked for square Deal"
1t is a striking confirmation Of the
American viewpoint expressed at the
Paris conference by President Wilson
that the imposition of an unlimited
indemnity now has been abandoned
Germany fully counted on American
influence in the Leagueof Nations to
get her a square. deal" But it is
a serious question how much German
sympathizers in America are in touch
with the desires of the Fatherland
IS the expression of a protest against
the Democratic administration which
offended them during the war.
10 the Poles, the Republicans and
democrats will present different
Gratis will say the Troubles in mo Po-
land today are due to neglect by
the powers, and especially the inabii-
4ty OF America to help through the
League OF Nations, while the Repub-
true, President Wilson's stubborn
ness Kept America from being in the
league to render that help.
Among the Czecno-Slovaks and
Jugo-Slavs the assistance already
rendered by America to the new re-
publics in central Europe will be
used to political advantage in the
claiming OF credit by the Democrats
Tor the part played by President VIII
son in the establishment of those
eo tIr and by the Republicans
TOR the financial assistance and re-
lief rendered in Austria and else
Where In central Europe by Herbert
HooVer who has announced his sup
port of Senator Harding.
Two-Edged Sword
But fundamentally Mr. Harding
has opened up wide the question Of
the sympathies of the foreign born
in the event that a dispute arises be-
tween the United States and the
country of their birth. The dissen-
SION inside America when the Unit
many occurred, say the Democrats,
when there was no League of Ma
ions and they declare moreover that
the irish americans have sat in the
iopp1es OF congress and influenced
the passage of resolution after reso-
LUTON offensive to Great Britain. On
the other hand, Mr.. Wilson himself
mas commended that because America
was made up of various nationalities
ner people, could bring friendly in
fiuence to bear and could better un-
derstand European controversies.
Senator Harding is confident from
americas experience with the hy-
phen In the war with Germany that
the United States would be perpe-
tually torn with disputes among her
own citizens if this country sat on a
council and discussed European
questions. 1t is considered by Re-
publicans as one of the most pow
erful arguments that could be made
against Americas entrance into the
league and unquestionab1y will be
the basis of Republican efforts to Sc
cure the support of foreign born yot-
ers for a policy of hands off Europe
But the trouble is that many for
e1gn born want America to use her
influence in Europe and to mix in.
It's a two-edged sword