Evening star., 1921-05-14
Editorial Digest
Uncle Sam "Sits In" Again,

There Is general tone Of satisfac-
tion in the newspaper comment on
the renewed participation of America
in the world councils, with an un-
official observer on the reparations
| commission and with President Hard
ing personally represented on the
supreme council. There is marked
tendency in the democratic press to
point to this act as a resumption of
the wilson policies, shaft that is
paired by emphatic protest by
number of republican writers. who
deny that representation abroad
means anything in the nature of en-
tanglements. Some league enthusi--
asts see in this step progress toward
final acceptance of the covenant.
by Ihe leagues opponents.
The Louisville Courier journal
! (democratic) finds President Hard
ing's "repudiation" of ''isolation'
proof of his common sense. fore
sight. his courage" His course, how
ever. is not surprising, the paper
adds, Ito those who have watched the
steady adherence of the new admins.
tration to the policy of the old.
Though displaying equal enthusiasm
over the plan. the Newark News Gin
dependenD less sympathetically de-
clares that "President Harding has
been obliged to run the white flag
little ways up and make the frst
gesture toward surrender" and the
Chattanooga News (democratic) re-
marks: "Vowing he would ne'er con-
sent. President Harding has con-
Sented."
To the Milwaukee Journal Gnde-
pendent the administration has SIM
ply come back to Mr.. Wilson's way,
and the country should be glad of it.
a fact which 'it will do no harm TO
suppress the tendency to gloat over.
says the ST. Louis Star Independently,
the inexorable logic of marching
events that we could not stand aloof
The New York Globe GndependenD
also considers that the administrator
is accepting the essential pollcy OF
Woodrow Wilson," but stripped of
its personalities and blunders. under
another name and without acknoWl-
cdgments to its author"
Some of the pro-leaSue newspapers
look upon the Presidents acceptance
of the allied invitation with good
deal of hope The Wheeling Register
(democratic), for instance, considers
it IAN acknowledgment of the league
of nations and its subsidiary parts
and the capacity of the same for do
ing good"
diately met by a heavy barrage of de-
malls. Says the New York Herald Gn-
dependenD, which ''is in full sympa-
thy" with the step: There is in this
action no reconciliation with the
league of nations, or the league of
nations idea. On the contrary. the
Am erican note expressly declares this
governments adherence to the tradi-
tional policy of abstention from the
participation in matters of distinctly
European concern"
Indeed. I'VE are going in" says the
Baltimore American (republicanD.
with the understanding that in do
ing so we are not tying ourselves up
with the league of nations" How
ever, the American feels that now
Nsiness." satisfied that the United
States is a willing partner" The Chi
cago Tribune independent repub
lican) and the Philadelphia Bulletin
independent republican, make clear
to their readers that Americas rep
sit in" at the sessions Of the supreme
council without involving any dam
ger of "entangling alliances" for this
act. the Tribune asserts. "in no sense
binds the United States in advance"
Our representation commits us to
nothing" in the opinion of the Bos-
ton Herald Independent republican,,
and the Harrisburg Telegraph (re-
publican) adds, I'VE take part as
free power" The Knickerbocker
fFesS tAlDany, repuDllcan) ana the
New York Mail independently take
the defensive emphatically against
the democratic assertion that the ac-
tion is an Endorsement of the Wilson
policy and the league. Both of these
assertions "are wrong" says the
Press, and the Mail declares that
there is "a world of difference" be-
tween what President Harding de-
cided to do and what President Will
son wanted to do"
The general run Of newspapers,
however, are content to assay the
Administrations act on it's face value.
The New York Times independent
democratic), for instance, considers
it "a long step toward ending the
senseless and unsafe policy of isola-
ton" and represents IAN enlightened
and broadminded policy" To the
Philadelphia Public Ledger Gndepend-
ent it is definite step toward re-
sumption Of our international obliga-
tions." The course is. in the opinion
of the Cleveland Plain Dealer Gnde-
pendent democratic), "a further indi-
cation of the administrations sin
cerity in it's expressed desire to stand
by the allies"
A number Of writer's who do not
necessarily quarrel with the policy
object strongly to the fact that
George Harvey, ambassador to Great
Britain, will represent America-a
task, as the Roanoke Times (demo-
cratic) suggests. requiring a Taft
or Root"