The Washington herald., 1920-08-02
Cox Promises the Impossible
In Backing President Wilson
On League Stand, Says Taft
Former President Points Out That Republic
ans Regardless of Election Results Will
Have Enough Votes to Defeat Pact
In Its Original Form.

his preliminary declarations since
the convention and by his accept,
ance speech has indicated his pur-
pose to secure the objects which
he sought so secure in twice vot-
ing for .hc league with reserva-
tions in another way; first, by joint
resolution of Congress declaring
peace: and. second. by a new pro-
posal for a vaguely described as
sociation of nations. / deem this
course unwisc. politically ineXpedi-
ent and impracticable. Ii discour-
ages an important element of the
Republican party strongly in fa-
vor of the league, who would have
given the zeal of a moral issue to
the Republican campaign. 1t will
leave reluctant in the Democratic
column many independent voters
who would otherwise have left their
party.
Hopes Harding VIII Change.
Mr.. Harding's proposals are like
ly to prove impracticable because
OF the doubtful attitude of Ger
many and that of the present mem
bers of the league. and also be-
cause of the opposition of enough
|
still hope. therefore, that when
election controversies have been
settled, when the responsibility for
action becomes imperative. when
the new administration faces a
probable deadlock. which has been
Mr.. Wilson's undoing. the Repub-
! llcan President will conclude to re-
cur to that course which he took
in his two votes in the Senate.
Suppose l am wrong in this. how
does it change the case? If Mr.
Harding has given US who desire
the league, with or without reser-
vations, no ground for hope, Mr
Cox has promised the impossible
With such hopelessness as to the
league then. should any Republican
break his party affiliations and
vote for the Democratic candidate
on an abstraction?
But some will say that Gov. Cox
will come to the Lodge reserva-
tions How could l vote for him
| on the theory that he will violate
his pledge to Mr. Wilson. to the
Democratic convention. and to the
country? Why should l leave the
Republican party to follow a hy-
pothesis Of that sort?
Wilson Unreasonable.
If ones vote is to be a vote of
! confidence, or want of II, for the
past. the case is no better for a
Republicans voting the Demo
cratic ticket. Mr.. Wilson had two
opportunities to lead this nation
into the league. In his obdurate
! "rule-or-ruin" policy he refused to
make reasonable concessions to the
/ Senate, a coordinate branch of the
government in performing a joint
| constitutional function, and destroy
| ed the league. But for him and his
! action We would now have been
! functioning in the league for six
! months and helping the world in
( its dire need. BY the deadlock he
| has caused untold loss to the world
| in doubt and delay. More than this,
the deadlock has tired the American
people of the league issue. They
were disposed generally to accent
the league, but Mr.. Wilson's course
has dulled their interest. He has
, forced upon his party and an impa-
tient people a referendum which
! will carry no decision.
lam by conviction and by life.
I long association, a Republican. I
know much of both candidates, and
greatly prefer Senator Harding TO
! Gov. Cox for the Presidency. I be-
lieve that lit is Of high Importance
| that the narrowly and personally
| partisan administration of Presi-
| dent Wilson should be succeeded by
| that of a Republican who will not
maintain the autocratic side which
| personal bent. party discipline and
the war power have imposed upon
| the country.