New-York tribune., 1920-08-02
By William Howard Taft

IlliLaOELf flA, Aug. i. .- Answer
ing number of inquiries how Re-
publican should vote who regards the
League of Nations as more important
than any domestic or personal issue
of this campaign, l find it easier to
abandon the usually impersonal Zone
of an editorial column.
l was one of the small group who in
1915 began the movement in this coun-
try for the League of Nations and the
participation of the United States
therein. l became president of the
League to Enforce Peace, which was
the form the movement took. / was
active in spreading the propaganda
and urging that, as the leading and
most powerful nation in the world, it
was our duty to unite with other
nations to prevent war.
When Mr.. Wilson brought To this
country the league covenant as re-
ported to the Paris conference |
urged, on the, same platform with
him, that we join the league there
after recommended amendments, some
of which were adopted into it's iinal
form. Had | been in the Senate |
would have voted for the league and
treaty as submitted; and l advocated
is ratification accordingly. l die not
think and do not now think that. any
thing in the league covenant as sent
to the Senate would violate the Con-
stitution of the United States or would
involve us in wars which it would not
be to the highest interest of the world
and this country to suppress by uni
versal boycott and, if need be, by
military force
Moral Effect Would Prevent War
| consider that the moral effect of
Article X on predatory nations would
restrain them from war as the decla-
ration of the Monroe. Doctrine has
done and that the requrem Mt of the
, unanimous consent by the representa-
tlves of the great powers IN council
before league action would safeguard
the United States from any perversion
! OF the high purpose of the league.
/ Moreover | believe that tie issue of
the league transcends in its impor-
/ tance any domestic issues and would
| Justify and require one who believes
so to ignore party ties anl secure this
great DOOn Tor tne WO- ID ana THIS
country.
"Why, then," I am ASKED, Of these
are your convictions, dc you not vote
for Governor Cox, who is pledged to
carry out a platform The declarations
of which accord with your views?" My
answer is that no such issue as the
ratification of the League of Nations as
submitted can possibly be settled in the
coming election. Only third of the
/ Senate is to be elected and but fifteen
republican Senator'S out Of forty-nine
can be changed. There remain in the
! Senate, whatever the result of the cleo
tion, thirty-three Republicans who have
twice voted against the ratification of
the league without the Lodge reserva-
tions. Of the fifteen retiring Republ-
cans, many are certain of reelection.
Thirty three votes will defeat the league
Mr.. Wilson refused to accept ratid-
cation with reservation as to Arti-
Gle and defeated the league The
Democratic platform and Mr.. Cox in
sist that the league is valueless without
Article X and pledge continuance OF
Mr.. Wilson's policy. While / recog.
nize the Importance of that article,
believe it to be blindly foolish to sacri.
tice the league for it. Without it the
league viii still be the greatest STEP
forward in recorded history toward eff
tectlng permanent peace
Urged Wilson to Accept
The League to Enforce Peace and
many Democrats urged Mr.. Wilson tc
accept the reservations and enter the
league, bat he refused. He has thus
deliberately forced this issue as to Ar.
tlcle into the election, although it is
automatically demonstrable that the
ho -
impossible. Mr.. Cox's proposed rescr.
vat'ons are merely declaratorv of what
the most extreme supporters of the
league admit to be its necessary con.
struction. Of course Mr. Wilson ha:
no objection to these. They do MOI
change or qualify Article x at all.
Why, then, should vote for Mr.. Co,
when he is pledged to that to which
ON utterly opposed? What differenc,
does it make that as an abstract ques
ton | favor the same form of league
which he does when in fact he propose,
to prevent the only form of leagu,
which can possibly be ratified and on,
of inestimable value to the world?
But 1T is urged upon me that il
view Of the Republican platform an.
Mr.. Harding's speech of acceptanc
there Is no chance that Republican
success will bring the league with tn
Lodge reservations. l do not cOncea
deep disappointment that Mr.. Hardin
by his preliminary declarations sine
tha convention and by his acceptanc
speech has indicated his purpose t.
secure the objects which he sought t
secure in twice voting for the leagu
with reservations in another way; first
by joint resolution of Congress de
claring peace, and, second, by nev
proposal for a vaguely described asso
citation of nations.
Deems Course Unwise
| I deem this course unwise, politi
cally inexpedient and impractica bl,
1t discourages an important elemen
, of the Republican party strongly i
favor of the league, who would hav
:, given the seal of moral issue to tn
! Republican campaign. 1t will leave re
luctant in the Democratic column man
Independent voters who would other
wise have left their party Mr.. Han
ding's proposals are likely to prove i'm
= practicable because of the doubtful al
e titude of Germany and that of tn
= present members of the league an
e also because of the opposition c
e enough Democrats to block a ne
S treaty.
a l still hope therefore that whe
election controversies have been set