Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-08-30
Monday, August 30, 1870
The League or A League

me League or - League
The League OF Nations ordered by
Woodrow Wilson or a League shaped
under the mature considera ton Of the
best minds cooperating and in the
light of events is the real League is-
sue in this Presidential election.
Cox is bound hand and foot TO the
Wilson covenant: no change that he
has suggested or can suggest without
tacitly approving the Lodge reserva-
tons. which Wilson refused. modifes
those obligations under which today.
had they been accepted il undoubted
~ would have been said we were in
honor bound to send our men and our
money TO withstand the Russians in
Poland.
Harding, on the other hand, stand
ing or a platform which favors an
international association to preserve
peace based upon international JUS
tice." pledges his utmost effort TO
bring this about by the aid Of the
framework Of the league. or by way
Of the Hague Tribunal with teeth in
it-by any and all practical means:
but he does insist that this country
ton OF Improvement Of diplo-
mats TO interfere with Europes family
quarrels except, in the judgment OF
ourselves, such a course shall become
necessary to the welfare Of our own
country.
Instead Of placing diplomacy frst.
he would have an international court
at the head. Through juridical func-
tons the causes Of war might very
largely be eliminated. and human ma
ture has ever found 1t easier to bow
to the dedication Of the legal tribunal
than TO the will Of diplomats. An in
ternationai bill of rights would exert
a most profound influence on public
sentiment. The history Of treaty max
ing holds out no such appeal to con-
fidence
We have held to the conviction that
some step should now be taken to
guard insofar as possible against re-
currence OF war: that, rather than
miss this opportunity, for such it is,
it would be better to accept the
League Of Nations and make the best
Of II, Notwithstanding the methods at
tending its making were not above
criticism or apprehension. When
Wilson refused advice and suggestion.
and through defeat Of the Lodge
reservations denied the opportunity TO
make a beginning, and instead made
a political issue of the matter, what
little Of faith we had had in him or in
his methods was destroyed, to say
nothing Of the revelation which for
eign conditions have afforded since
that time.
Are the people interested in a
League Of Nations? We do not doubt
for one moment that they will be
graveiy concerned now there is pre-
scented 10 them a plan in which they
may have confidence. Interest in the
Wilson, League, however is lessening
every day. And why not? Has not
Woodrow Wilson unmistakably dem
onstrated that he is not to be trusted
in this matter? He seeks to get the
Democratic party four years more Of
government control on the spurious
plea that this is the only panacea for
universal peace. He is the same man
who four years ago chose to enter un-
prepared into a war which he knew
irapended that he might go before the
country with the plea that he had
kept US out of war-and our soldiers
paid the price.
OF course the public Is not interest
I'd in buying another gold brick Of the
same individual.