The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-18
The League Under Harding

AAI ATGokdg oAoSA A@A@ &s1
 To the Editor of The Age-IIeraldi
 The Inauguration of Harding now rapidly approaching, brings to the fore once again the League of Nations and also wide discussion and interest as to It's fate at the hands of the new ad- ministration. While 1t has been argued by the foes of the league that the overwhelming defeat of Cox last No vember spelled its final repudiation by the American people, l cannot inter pret this to be the true attitude and mind of the American people On the other hand 1 can easily attribute that democratic disaster to other causes, numerous and varied, chief among which was the great reaction follow ing the war. This, l bellecve, must be self-evident as fact of history and cannot be denied with any degree of sane reasoning. Of course, other req sons have contributed to this demo- cratic debacle which 1t is not necessary here to enumerate. I shall not enter into a discussion of this phase of po- litical reasoning offered by politicians, democratic and republican alike. in their mad endeavor to explain the de feat and great victory of their respec-
 
 political observers. Such would be for eign to the object I had in view
 RESERV ATlONS ESSENTIAL
 In the beginning, it may be well to remark upon the impossibility of the ratification of the peace treaty with it's League covenant by a republican and recalcitrant Senate in the form as brought back from Paris by the Presi- dent do not think more time should be lost in attempting to put it through the Senate in view of the past desperate efforts made by its champions and the equally strong opposition by the re- publican members. It is to be regretted that this is the situation, and, perhaps it is not saying too much that political considerations entered into the matter and .doubtlessly effected the vote of many senators who at heart really fa- vored the league, but were influenced by rabid partisan considerations preached by republican chieftains who so easily found fault in the treaty as negotiated by q democratic President in conference with the leaders of thought in Europe. But since the re- turn of the President from Paris fol- lowing the close of the peace confer ence. and in view of the momentous developments of recent months in Con- gross, and a great political campaign having been waged and won by a party claiming the League of Nations as the paramount issue, it is folly at this late day further to hope for ratifi- cation of the treaty in it's original form. It behooves us now to turn our attention to the future-the promises it holds, the dangers we must meet, the criticism that is certain from an enemy camp. l~
 ASSOCIATION OF NATIONS IDEA
 President-elect Harding has let it be known that he favors some kind of an association of nations having for it's object the prevention of future wars and a gradual disarmament of the na- tions of the world. A grand idea. So much, so good. Now let us see what the League of Nations now existing holds forth, and let us take brief view of its workings and It's results among the great powers already mem bers. The League of Nations is real,
 working instrumentality. It is not dead by any means, as preached far and wide by it's enemies, but is in fact working organization actually func- tioning at the present day. Only re-
 gently it has concluded its historic sessions at Geneva, and the good it has accomplished, the mighty influence it has wielded for world peace and the welfare of nations the noble motives of it's founders actuating it's creation, the absence of selfishness and greed among the member nations, must be obvious and convincing to the impar- tial unpreudiced fair minded man. So, then, it is the view of the incoming administration to begin this great work over again in developing new asso citation of nations to replace the great living League of Nations already an epoch-making, celebrated event of his tory. What shall be the beginning of this new step? What improvements ccn be made? What effect upon the nations of the world now composing the league, and who have given 1t the highest praise and whose spokesmen 1 have on numerous occasions praised it's lofty purposes and high ideals, who have lauded it as the greatest forward | step toward universal peace history ar lords?
 ! Are these nations going blindly into another path, now and unexplored. with l it's innumerable difficulties and ob. stacles? Will they take this course i blindly groping after a leader yet un-
 known and untried? VIII they undo | SO hastily this memorable work ol their chosen leaders? Will they cal | this immortal document a scrap of pa per? I cannot believe 1t possible; II would be absurd, monstrous 1t would | be an event no historian of the future would dare chronicle. What, then, is | the hope of the new administrator with it's projected new idea Of new
 and untried association of nations