Evening star., 1921-05-04
Editorial Digest
Justice. Blackmail and Oil.

The administrations success in secur-
ing the Senate ratification of the Co.
lombian treaty has caused remarkably
| widespread and diverging expression of
| opinion from the newspapers. Some
| writer's regard it as a triumph for
| Harding and others as triumph for
Wilson. To some 1t is submission to
blackmail and defamation of the name of
Theodore Roosevelt, to others it is a
noble act of international justice. re-
garded as so belated as to be Of little
use or as the timely beginning Of a
| new era of good feeling in the Americas.
number of writer's, among them both
those who approve and those who con-
denim the treaty, see the explanation of
, ITS ratification in Colombia's freshly
sprung Oil gushers.
Credit" for the acceptance Of the
treaty is due to Mr.. Wilson, in the
(democratic). and to democratic hon
eSty." according to the Buffalo Times
tdemocratic). while the Commercial Gin
dependent Of the same city awards it
Muskegon Chronicle Independently Mr..
Harding's victory is "pyrrhic" and may
prove COSTLY and the Rochester Times
Union, independently sees in it the
'rout' of the "dauntless champions OF
isolation" which will make approach to
the Versailles treaty easier Upon this
phase the New York Times independent
democratic) also comments, remarking
that Senator Lodge fell back as tr-
umphantly as the German general staff
to positions prepared in advance"
There is plenty of praise for the ac-
ton Of the Senate and President Hard
inE's part in it reelected in the columns
of papers of varying political views.
though som" writer's add qualifying
comment according to their perSuasions.
The st. Louis Post Dispatch (independ
cEo finds it "a good step toward a
sound foreign policy though the Son
atc's refusal to take the step at MIR.
Wilson's request reflects upon the sin
cerity of the republican leaders" and
the Jersey City Journal independently
expresses a similar view. Despite it's
belated consummation and whatever
motives may be attributed to it. the
that Mr.. Harding has been able to help
Ito right great wrong and put the
United States where it belongs as a ma
ton that is capable OF cleaning its own
hands"
Unqualified appreciation comes from
the Boston Post independent demo-
cratic), which feels that Mr.. Harding
has shown himself as "a genuine friend
of the republics to the South The
New Haven JournalCourier Gndepend-
enO and the Baltimore Evening Sun
independent democratic) likewise agree
that we are now on the way toward
pleasant relations with South America.
The Wheeling Register (democratic)
tional foreign policy America will soon
have regained her high place of esteem
in the eyes of the world The Knox
vile Sentinel independent democratic)
believes it a '1audable achievement for
the new administration" while the
Rochester Herald Gndependent. besides
welcoming the recovery of our lost
standing with South America sees
progress toward "re- establishing the
constitutional power OF the executive to
Many newspapers, however, think
that the taint Of oil is strong enough
in the ira nsa cton to make motives hard
to perceive. THE desire for justice"
Isuggests the wichita Eagle Gndepen-
dent) had something to do with rati-
The Spokane Spokesman-Review Gnde-
pendent republican,. opposing the
treaty. tersely remarks great is petro-
leum," and the Philadelphia Record Tin
truth is we did great wrong to Colon
bia, and in view Of the possible oil con-
cessions the republican senators are will
ing to reimburse Colombia for its
pecuniary loss in the Panama matter.
but without making any admissions or
venturing upon any denials."
What we refused to do when there
was no oil in sight we do in a head
over-heels fashion when we find OIL"
says the Des Moines Register (nde-
pendent republican,. and asks sis that
likely to add a chapter in our foreign
relations that we shall take pride in?'
To the Baltimore American (repubH-
can) the Senate's object was 'rolom-
bian oil in particular and South Ameri-
can good will in general
But the "oily' gossip is dismissed as
unworthy Of belief" by the New York
Tribune Crepublican), for surely there
is not member of the United States
Senate willing to involve his country
in dishonor in order that private con-
Germs shall get concessions for moth
ing" :.
The Detroit Free Press s1independenD
finds the treaty "a blot on fair rec
ord" The Memphis News -Scimitar
independently asks why 'the outrageous
claims" are being paid and scents IAN
odor of oil over it ALL Unworthy of
American craftsmanship and rejecting
mo credit on Colombia" is the comment
Of the Muncie Star independent repub-
lican). and the Knickerbocker Press
(republican) calls the indemnity throw
ing $25,000,0 900 literally to the dogs"
This we have done, in the opinion of
the ort Wayne News and Sentinel (re-
publican). 'for the sake Of acquiring GER
tain valuable oil rights and the good |
will OF a bad bunch" !"