The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-04
F0REIGNlISSUES
!. N ELECTION in
STATE FORESEENI
Near East sltuatio nand In.
dorsement Of League by
Democrats Cited.
By CHARLES CROOKS SMITH.

/
BY CHARLES BROOKS SMITH.
! WASHINGTON, d. c.. Oct. a.
Foreign and not domestic political
issues are going to interest the
voters Of West Virginia this year,
according to views expressed today
on the political trend and situation
in that state by former Congress.
man Edward Cooper OF Bramwell,
who represented the fifth Congress.
sional district in the House OF Rep.
resentatives for four years. The
war developments in the Near East
and the fact that the Democratic
candidates are bound by their par
tvs Endorsement Of the national
platform OF 1920 to an adherence
TO the League Of Nations are the
reasons assigned by Mr.. Cooper for
! his forecast of the course the cam
paign in his state will take when
! It gets to going strong and the vot,
ers become aroused.
1.-THE World War" declared Mr..
Cooper today. taught the people
of West Virginia with startling,
shocking swiftness and clearness
that the United States is not as
far removed from Europe's thea
ters OF warfare that they had
thought. Itltaught them also that
conscripting our boys to fight, In
European wars was a thing that
could happen that they never
thought could or would happen,
since 1t neyerSdid happen.
I'm the light Of that dearly &C.
CURED knowledge and the warlike
situation in and around the Nea.
East, and in view OF the fact that
the Democratic party In West Wiz.
GINA, especially and conspicuously
its candidate, for the United States
Senate, Major Nicely, Is committed
10 the plan To vote the United
States into membership OF the
League of Nations, that proposition
Is, In my Judgment, inevitably des
tined to take the front Of the stage
in the campaign In West Virginia
before election day dawns.
West Vlrginians who gave their
boys by the thousands to General
Pershing to defend the honor and
uphold the rights OF this nation,
as well as West Virginia parents
who have boys that other wars may
take from them, are not favorable
to our membership in the League
Of Nations, because they hold to
the view, and a correct view Of 4:
is, in my opinion, that Il involves
US in foreign entanglements OF a
political and military character
which will make for war rather
than peace. The present situation
In the Near East justifies their DO.
sitlon. It causes to be borne In on
our minds that had we gone into
the League, as President Wilson
intended We should and desired,
we would now have mandate over
Armenia, an army on the ground
to maintain It, reinforcements leav.
ing our shores for 1t, and Congress
now In session levying taxes and
appropriating billions with which
to carry through the enterprise.
II do not overdraw the picture.
Our recent experience seems to IN
dictate that the picture is under.
drawn n ANYTHING
1.-THE Democratic party in West
Virginia is committed to the
League. Candidate Nicely is IRE.
vocably committed to II. He Is
running for. an office the term OF
which is for six years. It is an Of.
flee that settles policies that make
for war or for peace. The biggest
leaders advocating membership in
the League are carrying on the
fight for It. They say that II wasn't
definitely and permanently settled
by the American people at the polls
in 1920, and, therefore, It will be
passed on again two years hence.
The advanced status OF the issue in
West Virginia indicates that they
are probably right. 1t is but a
fore-runner.
"These are some OF the reasons
that have caused me to form the
opinion that domestic political
questions will be subordinated Is.
sues in West Virginia before the
end Of October rolls around Do
nestle Issues are nothing in i'm.
portance compared to this issue Of
embrolling our government in Euro.
pean politics, intrigue, land.grab.
bling by the artistic means Of the
mandate business, and the inevita.
BILE warnings that naturally result to
those who mix into such messes.
The tariff, high costs, unionism and
industrial strife, controversies over
political patronage, bonus or no
bonus, all such questions as those
will become petty and unimportant
compared to the League OF Nations
membership question when the
fathers and mothers in West Vir.
ginla who do the voting get down
to the business Of calmly invest.
eating to see that the parties and
A q ~.