South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-03-19
Other Editors Than Ours
PRIEST HARDING is RIGHT.
(Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette.)

1t seems incredible that in than a week after
his inauguration intense partisan paper as the
Boston Transcript should be frownng upon Pres't
Harding and Secy Hughes and charging them with
attempting under the of secrecy to reverse
the verdict Of the American people, The inspiration
for this outburst is the action the president in
asking the senate to ratify the Colombian treaty,
and of Sen Lodge in proposing that the treaty shall
be acted upon in secret session.
II has been reserved for the Transcript to dis
cover that the American people have twice decided
IN a national referendum" against the ratification
OF the treaty and the payment to Colombia of
penny. The average citizen will search his memory
in vain for one of these two national referendums.
Never TO our knowledge has the subject Of the
treaty been an issue in any campaign; and never
has It been discussed one of the issues in a
single campaign; and never has it been a party is
sue. There have been republicans who favored L
and democrats who opposed it.
The weakness Of the transcripts case lies in the
fact that ii is based upon the assumption that Mr..
Roosevelt. whose responsibility as 10 our interna-
tonal relationships has passed. opposed the rati-
hcation Of the treaty which every of justice
and fair play, not 10 OF interest demands If
this be true the transcripts idol Sen. Lodge. has
borne false witness against his friend of Oyster
Fay for heetels US that the former president fav-
ored the ratification OF the treaty present
form.
really did know there were any-insist on an
open discussion of the treaty. there is no reason,
relating American politics why il should not be
discussed in open session.
But Perhaps the responsible leaders of the Amer
people under obligations TO think OF our in
ternauonal relations as something apart from
lean politics
thing quite certain: In the event the treaty
is discussed in senate the opponents of ratin-
cation many OF them demagogues, blusterers,
poseurs, cheap imitators of Roosevelt, propose to
devote themselves I rabid denunciations Of Col
Ombian statesmen, and TO the rafting of the sword.
These the American junkers
Naturally such sensational TRADES will make ex-
cellent copy and the press will carry the rabid
speeches and the wires will flash the insults only
to Colombia but 10 all the other nations Latin
America. The effect upon the republics the south
easily imagined.
OF course. as these demagogues will make clear
we are not afraid Of any of the little republics
the south. We lick EN-" But unhapLuy IL
is not question OF There Is something else in
Volved
And that something else involved is trade
Within the last few years the American business
has awakened TO the fact that our great COM
merCial future Is TO the south Germany, England.
Japan and France had that awakening long before
and while slept they breaking in heavily
upon the Latin-AmericGn market. We have but re-
Gently been shocked to ind what a tremendous trade
these countries had with nations at our very door
And this has been due in part to prejudice
the part Of the Latin-Americans against US on the
ground that are a bullying nation hostile
Latin America This prejudice largely dissi-
pated during the last eight years And have been
planning 10 enter upon in these nations
II Colombia and Iatin-American policy and
American statesmen 10 be treated ike
hoodlums and horse thieves the floor OF the SEN
ate. though ratified the insult will be
gotten that IS precisely the reason the enemies
Of the treaty. clustering junkers. an open
session.
1t is so easy to catch" some OF the men in the
This. no doubt Is appreciated by Prest Harding
Sec'y Hughes and Lodge who want the treaty
ratified the fashion. And they are right
However. the responsibility is the senate now
and II u is determined TO muddle international
affairs than they have they have the privilege
The Colombian treaty should be ratified the state
wired clean OF all old OF distrust 20 the end
that may proceed to the honorable conquest OF
the markets. Of Central and south America.