Evening star., 1922-08-09
League Of Nations Issue Remains
Clouded.


The question whether republicans
in large numbers participated as
democrats in the Missouri primaries.
especially in Kansas City and st.
Louis. and thereby made possible the
success Of Senator Reed in the demo-
cratic contest Is agitating the coun-
try at large. The majority Of demo-
cratic newspapers insist this was so
and that thereby suggestions that the
result was a reputation Of the poll
cies of Woodrow Wilson must be
without foundation. On the other
hand, many republican papers take
an opposite view. They hold that
the issue at all times was the league
Of nations and that the result shows
that the democracy no longer con-
siders 1t a paramount one.
Insisting that it is impossible to
construe the result in Missouri as a
league" the New York World dnde-
pendent democratic) insists that the
Missouri vote was a remarkable dem
onstration of Mr.. wilson's influence
with the rank and file of democratic
voters. Had 1t not been for him
yet two brief letters from Woodrow
Wilson were sufficient to give the
senator the fight of his life. which
he won only by means OF republican
votes cast in a democratic primary.
Had only democrats been permitted
to vote he would have been beaten.
A great many gentlemen in Wash
ington would like to think that Reeds
denomination means what they say
it means, but they will hardly be SO
foolish as to act accordingly:
Long. the Newark News dndepend-
ent) believes, was ''far from beine
the strongest sort of campaigner. His
eccentricities, though he Is a brill
liant man, and particularly his tend,
by more than one utterance In the
campaign, probably also initiated
against him" And the Milwaukee
Journal independently suggests also
that the contest was without party
Significance. inasmuch as Reed was
a focus of the various emotions, pref
udices and groupings of the years
since war upset previous alignments
and transgressed party lines. Senator
Reed has rendered service to the anti
war crowd, the republican crowd. the
enemies of the league of nations and
the pro-Germans. With both parties
broken up and discredited, with vot-
ing done so largely on past prejudfces
and grievances, rather than on pres
ent and future policy, there seems lit
ment In the Immediate future with
strength enough to attack the evils
which now surround u.s. to say moth
ing of those which threaten"
Likewise there need be no surprise
at the result the Syracuse Herald
"it was a personal victory for Reed
rather than an Endorsement of all
that he has stood for and against.
and the result proved again his
adroitnessS in political manipulation,
in mobilizing groups seemingly an
votes any considerable prejudice or
fear"
The fact that, under the Missouri
primaries. many republicans may
deplored, the Brooklyn Eagle dnde-
pendent nt-democratic) points out, be-
canse "a primary law which makes
such juggling possible is pernicious.
AS for Missouri. the mix-up is par
|ticularly unfortunate. The democracy
clare itself for or against Woodrow
Wilson'S policies. Its position is as
much in doubt as ever II republicans
determined the result of the pri-
maries."
is "a sad blow to Mr.. Wilson's am
bitions and a deep dent in plans to
restore his prestige. The democrats
Of Missouri may again be willing to
follow his leadership II he can grasp
it firmly, but the Tuesday primary is
clear warning that he is no longer fol-
low ed blindly and that Missouri demo-
Gratis have confidence in other lead
ers." The fact that most impressas
the Manchester Union Independent re-
publican) is that, despite the opposi-
and 1t asks, what is to be the after
math? Many of the rid US Of Reed
folk must still be bent on getting rid Of
Reed. It was not done in the pri-
mary-the election offers another op-
.portunity."
6 The Intervention of President VIII
son was at least "doubtfully wise." In
the sopiniens.o the Louisville Courier.
JoNrnaL, democratic), but 1t does not
acorisider the remit q reputation. Of
Wilson. holding that "a more accurate
Judgment would be that Reed Is a,
more resourceful, politician than Is
Long, and that q majority of demo-