The Washington herald., 1921-02-27
~ WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN,

Whether President Harding will
insist on dropping the league and
substituting an association does not
yet appeaaunR1|h he is a practical
politicif not likely to sacri-
nce sly Qe74 form. 1t is quite
probs Ereat Britain and
Fra e him a lead pencil
OF paper and ask him
.d the change desired; IL he
on changing the name II
oe done very easily. but he is
likely to put other nations to
any unnecessary trouble or to re-
quire any phraseology that will be
embarrassing.
The President is committed to but
two propositions in connection with
International peace. He is Tor CO.
operation with other nations ior
the prevention of war and he is
AGAINST any terms that will impair
the independence of this nation.
Harding Open Minded.
He has shown himself open
minded and anxious to receive IN
formation from all sources oeiore
proposing any definite plan. and Is
happily. entirely free to follow DIS
eonsciesce in interpreting his OBJ
legation to the country. His noml-
nation came to him in such a way
as 10 make him more Independent
than nominees sometimes are. ana
his majority was so large that no
man. no group, no faction can
claim to have exercised a controll-
ing influence.
But while he is free to follow his
personal convictions he is not free
10 ignore the known sentiment OF
the country. and he knows what the
sentiment is. A large majority OF
the members of the Senate. includ-
ing Senator Harding. voted to ac-
cent the league with reservations
a majority of eighteen on the maj
rote-and twenty more favored the
league but opposed the reservations.
Only nineteen Senators cut OF
total of ninety-siN opposed the
league idea entirely, and that is
probably a larger percentage OF op-
position than exists among the
voters as a whole
J. An overwhelming majority Of the
American people demand some form
{ Of international corporation: with
out 1t, 1t Is impossible to hope for
permanent peace. The enormous In
crease in expenditures for arma-
rnents proclaim only too clearly the
fears of the world. Without dis
Armament we must expect return
ing wars. each more expensive and
more bloody than the one before,
until bankruptcy Of the weaker ma
tions makes them subject to the
stronger nations.
Europe Is Powerless.
Europe Is powerless to save it.
self. Land hunger, commercial
greed and the spirit Of revenge are
driving the nations of the old
world toward war. No one Of them,
or group, has the moral strength
and the unselhsh spirit necessary
for the solution of the difficulty.
Our nation alone has the influence
and the disinterestedness to act as
arbiter, and we will have more In
huence when we reserve the right
to decide our action for ourselves
than we would have IL a foreign
council could commit us to war and
call our soldiers to battle.
Many of those who favored rati-
ncatfon without reservation, as long
as that seemed possible. did 50 as
! did-not because Article x was
deemed wise. but because 1t seemed
better TO go into the league at once
and eliminate Article X afterward
than to risk the evils that might
come with delay. Now that the
American people have issued their
mandate al. will join the friends
Of an association, of nations and
hasten the carrying out Of the vo-
ters' decree.
His First Problem.
This Is the first problem with
which the new President will have
70 deal. and every citizen who has
the welfare Of his country at heart
viii hope that he will act wisely
and, by throwing ear nations infiu-
enceon the side Of conciliation. help
to lay the foundation for an endur-
ing peace.
The second problem that con-
fronts the new occupant of the
White House has to do with taxa
tom Revenue is the continuing 7
question in government: other ques-
tons may come and go. but taxa
ton like Tennyson's brook. goes on
and on forever"
The 1oudest clamor. as usual.
comes from those least deserving
namely. the profiteers; but 1t so
happens that this Is the class that
has the ear Of the public. Repeal
excess profits tax" shouts Wall
Street. and the shout Is taken up
BY every organization under the in
fueuee Of the profiteers. The cry
vas 30 loud that an echo came back
from the Treasury Department and
rom the candidates Of the two lead
ing parties.
But, more serious still, how are
ve going to support the government
yfthout enormous revenuef II the
excess profits tax 10 repealed we
must either make up q great deficit
- some other form Of taxation or