The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-16

Hamilton Holt in Long
Letter Criticises Presi-
dent for Inaction.

New York, June 16.-Hamilton
Holt, magazine editor, who headed
the delegation of pro-league Re-
publicans that called on former
President Wilson during the last
presidential campaign. today made
public a letter he said he had
written President Harding asking
him to explain to the American
people the terms of the Harding
association proposed to supplant
the Wilson League Of Nations.
Threatens Political Doom.
IF you delay much further, peo-
ple everywhere will inevitably
conclude that you have no con-
crete plan at all, else that you
propose to put party harmony
above world welfare" Mr.. Holt
declared. IN that event, there will
be nothing left for those who
want America to play her right
full part in stabilizing the world
but to organize the country SO as
to capture congress for the league
in 1922 and the presidency In
1924"
This, Mr.. Holt asserted could be
done. He declared that the
League of Nations and bolshvism
were the only great ideas that had
come out of the World war as pan
acea, and asked the president
whether he could guarantee that
the world would not turn to Dol
shevism if it became generally be.
lieved that he had no plan at al
for the substitute Of the league.
Mr.. Holt, a member Of the
League to Enforce Peace, took 6
hand in the last presidential cam
paign by making public q list o.
100 Republicans who had bolted
the Harding ranks.
Text Of Letter.
The text OF his letter follows:
ut Is now six years that thu
League of Nations issue has beer
before the country. 1t is now tws
years that you as senator, presi
Dental candidate, president-elec
and president, have had the League
of Nations issue ofiicially befor'
you.
"As senator, you voted to hav'
the United States enter the exist
ing league, provided the Lodg
amendments we're made part Of tina
act of ratification.
LAS presidential candidate 70,
left the country and even your owl
followers in doubt as to your at
titude. Thirty-one preeminent Re
publicans, among whom were you
secretary Of state, Mr.. Hughes, an
your secretary Of commerce, MI
Hoover, assured their fellow coun
trymen that you would 60 into tn
existing league. Senators Bora
and johnson and other 'irreconsil
ables' assured them you would moi
~Both Sides Claimed You"
"As president-elect you did No
see fit to disclose your attitude o.
the league beyond what you sal
during the campaign. Both tn
'thirty-one' and the 'irreconcilables
claimed you for their own.
"As president, however, you hav
unequivocally repudiated the exist
ing League of Nations, whose are
comprises considerably more tina
half the earth and whose popula
ton numbers three-Quarters Of th
human race. You even permitte
without rebuke your ambassador 9
the court of st. James to say 20
will have nothing to do with an
commission or committee appointe
by the league or responsible to
directly or indirectly, openly or ful
lively.
"You have nevertheless, as pres
Dental candidate, repeatedly prom
ised during the campaign, and a
president you have reiterated ths
promise, that you will seek to e.
tablish AN association Of nations
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