The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-07-31
LAWRENCE PREDICTS
j, S, WILL ENTER THE
LEAGUE or NATIONS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
tcopy-iSht BY The Tntelll1enesr)

Washington. July SO.-Both the Ne
publican ard Democratic candidates for
ne presidency may talk as they like
,oncern,nE the league OF nations as an
ssue in the present campaign but evil
dences are multiplying that tho United
States will within a year be member
oc the league OF nations As provided
so- by the Treaty OF Versailles. Sena-
TOR Harding may keep his position am
m!bUouS IN order to keep the votes or
the Hiram Johnson following. and Gov
ernOr Cox may talk about reservations
n order not 70 aiienate the people who
didn't Ike MC Wilson'S insistcnCe on
an unqualified treaty. but the presence
Of Elihu Root and Or. James Brown
Scott IN the meetings now taking place
abroad 10 form court ot international
justice is looked upon both IN washing,
Ton by international lawyers ana Aor"ad
BY diplomats and statesmen as the tore-
runner OF Republican policy IN the
event that Mr.. Harding Is elected.
Documents which have Just come 70
the writer from official sources abroad
describe In great detail the part that
Messrs. Root and Scott are taking IN
the meetings OF the advisory commits
sion OF jurists who were appointed by
the council OF tho league OF nationS 10
establish a permanent. court OF Inter-
national Justice.
AnbOEn4L1OuAA SOoEN
That the United States says one OF
these documents though not member
of the league 81 nations should have
dominating influence IN the formation
Of the pc rnnaTent court OF international
Justice which Is 70 be the cornerstone
OF the league. is the great anomaly OF
the meetings being held AZ The Hague.
II Is both unexpected and unusual that
nation which has so seriously dam
aEed the idea ot the league OF nations
should nevertheless see It's own view
point and experience .arGety prcdomi,
Nant in one Of the most vital fields OF
activity Of the league.
The reason - not far 10. seek X
lies IN the personality nf TWO men. Elthu
Root. former secretary or state ana
James Brown Scott. former solicitor OF
the State department and now head or
the Carnegie Enhnw nent for tnterna-
ticral peace at Washington. To their
tact and Judgment IS due much OF the
direction which the whole cHmmitete IS
taking as we'll as the fact that the court
which eventually evolves from the de-
uberat!ons here will be a court wholly
IN line with American IDEALS and expert
ence. These two men hold in the
minds OF European jur!sts unique
position. II cannot be too strongly EN-
phasized that they do not represent the
United States government In any sense
for they have been appointed directly
by the council Of the league OF nations
on the basis OF their very high standing
among the leading turists Of the world.
They are therefore. on the same roofing
a. the other members or the committee
namely eminent jurists summoned by
an itenrnational organization TO perfect
plans for world court.
Presence Significant.
Nevertheless their position as Amer
leans adds significance 70 their pres
once for the statesmen OF Europe are
only too willing 20 recognize the big
ness OF spirit and viewpoint when Al.
lowed Mr.. Root especially. with his well
known alisnments In the United states
70 accept an appointment by An orEan!-
zatlcn tthe league OF nattons) TO which
This own country and his own poIitlcat
party. have expressed such Hehemen1
opposition or course. the fact that he
has been willing 10 serve Is taken
whether rightly or wrongly. as an indi-
cation that this foremost Of American
statesmen accepts at least the oroao
lines Of the existing league OF nations
THE committee had not been sitting
veek before II was possible to fore
cast that tho court would follow exact
Iv the lines OF the supreme court or tho
United States. This result followed nor
only from the loEtc Of the situation but
also from the presentation or an ana
,nxy OF Americas court by Mr.. Root.
" /, possible that the same results
a.ouId have been reached without the
rresAnCe Of Mr.. Root but 4 cannot be
doubted that they were greatly e1pe-
dited."
7, lss curious commentary on the sit
uation only BY the failure Of Lodge rep
resentatives in the last Congress. for
uas Il possible tor Mr. Root TO 70
abroad FOR one OF these reservations
forbade any American from accepting
any position under the league OF nations
Without the consent Of senate and made
no provision for recess appointments IN
the event that the senate was not In
session.
Perhaps the most Interesting excerpt
from documents discussing the meet
~. Dos; tak!ng place In tho council Of
,hs league and It's sub committees Is
the following:
The league Of nations Is building
stronKly but not at all sp"ctacularly. A
wholly new method or international CO
operation Is goinE to come out or II. II
u'Ill not. Of course. be either the creator
Of the millennium as so many OF It's
friends say nor the creator Of super
state as ltS enemies feel. Quite on tho
other hand. II would be a very pracu-
through which the nations can meet
regularly on all matters Of common In
tercst and dra" up program 20 D"
submitted 70 their respective states Tor
approval or diSappr. val"
The league OF nations. therefore. Is
KoinR concern flexible enough IN It's
organization to permit modification OF
rs constitution ard bylaws 40 that
America can enter = without fear OF be-
ing out-voted or compelled TO 20 TO war
AZ ths bchest 90 other nations And
when the present politica. campaign is
over, whether Mr.. Harding or Mr.. Cox
- elected. there are going 70 re mod!f-
cations 70 reasSure the American pub
lie, American membership IN tho league
looks more likely to-day With the prom!
nent part Mr.. Root Is playing IN It's
deliberations than at any time since tho
controversy between President wilson
md his opponents began 10 oecloud tho
ISSUE.