Deming graphic., 1920-08-10

ton. Ohio, last Saturday. Like his op-
ponent, Senator Harding, he expresses
gratitude that he Is To be his party's
standard bearer; hut with that all
agreemnet ceases. Governor Cox has
taken up the cudgel for the treaty OF
Versailles with its league OF nations,
substantially without reservations and
he undertakes 10 show that the repub-
lican party Is pledged by Its candidate
10 the destruction Of the league coven-
ant. He devotes more than n third OF
his speech to the matter. Considering
the importance Of domestic problems,
this might be- considered weakness.
Governor Cox, like his opponent, very
neatly sidestepped the wet and dry
issue, though his wet supporters are
reported 10 feel encouraged that their
candidate is in favor ofllght wines and
beer.
law enforcement, woman suffrage,
campaign funds. cost Of living, profit
eering. radicalism, federal taxation,
Americanization Of aliens, agriculture.
and reclamation Of arid lands, Mexican
policy. labor and capital, transporta-
ton, shipping and child labor, are
principal points covered
There can be no doubt but that Pres.
ident Wilson and his personal follow
ing are delighted with the stand taken
by Governor Cox In defense Of the YER
sailles treaty and the league Of nations
SO far that matter are republicans
of almost every shade of opinion from
mild reservationis,s To bitter ender'
opponents OF the covenant in any form.
The democrats who believe with their
senator's who voted with the republi-
can majority are pretty well left out
In the cold.
Quoting the democratic platform.
Governor Cox says:
I'VE advocate immediate ratification
of the treaty without reservations
which would impair Its essential integ-
rity, but do not oppose the acceptance
of any reservations making clearer or
more specific the obligations OF the
United States to the league associates"
The quoted paragraph is unfortunate
In It's choice of words to express an
obvious "straddle" Of the issue invol-
we'd. Most clearly, reservations that
make clearer or more specific are not
reservations at ALL but interpretations
of obscure meanings. BY n Juggling OF
words n sop is thrown to those demo-
Gratis who do not find comfort in the
league Of nations idea. IL is held that
freedom Of action under the constitu-
tion Is not compatible with any kind
OF covenant that brings Its provis-
ions into question. The democratic
candidate points out that no treaty
could supercede the constitution, but
there are Americans that hold that no
agreemnet should be entered into that
would make the constitution an instru-
ment Of controversy with allies. II
may be true that congress would still
retain the right to declare war, but IL
is equally certain that the president
and his personal delegate in the league
council could create the complications
and actually open hostilities, leaving
congress to declare war or eXtricate
the country from conflict already In
its opening phasef
While three columns Of newspaper
space are devoted to the league Of ma
tiOns. nothing Is said that makes the
covenant appear any safer to its op-
ponents. II is clear that Governor Cox
believes that II Is politically expedient
to endorse the administration and all
its policies. IL seems somewhat cur
ious that the Versailles treaty should
be. accepted as the paramount issue
t.I In
dicate the impossibility Of carrying il
into effect as originally drawn. 1t has
already been considerably modified by
the various allied conferences, notably
the one held jointly with German rep
resentatives at Spa. European diplo'
mats realize that the treaty Of Yer
sailles Is las dead as n mackerel.'
All the other belligerents have made
peace. so separate peace with Ger
many is the only one left for the Uni
ted States To make. lnsistence on Il
dead issue looks like a political trick
to divert public attention from the
pressing domestic problems which touch
the real interests Of the American
people.
Neither candidate Of the major par
ties has outlined Il program to relieve
the domestic situation; but confine
themselves to generalities that are OF
little value In educating the public to
M needs of the times Perhaps they
have programs too long for single
speech that Will be made public from
time to time.
Goveronr Cox is not quite 81 abrupt
with dissatisfied labor AS was his op-
pOnent, but only democrat can get
much sympathy out Of his speech for
the toilers OF America. He seems 10
be- uncertain whether or not the vote
of organized labor Is going TO be an
asset or liability since the Bailey
victory In Texas and the Allen victory
in Kansas. Evidently labor has had
its inning
To the casual observer IL would seem
that the governors exploitation OF
campaign expenditures as an issue is
little labOred, because il is common
knowledge that campaign expendit-
ures will exceed anything known be-
fore 10y many millions OF dollars. He
must know that his managers and his
opponents managers are simply raking
In every available dollar to meet the