The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-11-07
4 PULLING TENDENCY.

PULLING TENDENCY
In n very considerable section Of the Ameri-
can press there IL n tendency 10 make political
capital Of the failure of President Harding to
Involve the United states in some sort Of an
international league or association Of nations
The esteemed Oklahoman edltorislIy disregard
ing completely tho slate campaign which has
been raging for ~ weeks. In lts issue OF Fri
day. rcsurrected the Issue Of 1890 and rantcd
loud and long on the betrayal of tho people by
the Harding administration.
Let us quote.
From thousand 1920 platforms rcpub-
ucan orators pledged Themselves 10 secure
better accommodation than the one born
ln the hall OF mlrtors ~ Versailles And
from twice ton thousand villages and farm
stenda there rises today tho solemn query Of
tho American multitudcs seeking 10 ascer-
tain II they may what has become Of that
campaign pledge. ''' Where is the league
YOU promised rs when we helped you XIII
the league Ot NeraaillcsH
Here Is painted picture OF a people Wildly
deslrous Of having their country involved In an
international political league which would leave
II berett Of Independent action. which would
involve n In every quarrel or dispute In every
quarter OF the earth's surface This picture Is
intended to convey and does convoy the doctrine
that tho American people are keenly regretful
that the United states did not enter the league
OF nations, resentfu that President Harding
has not involved the republic in some way Of
other in some kind OF International debating
society whore II would have lost its liberty OF
action
We say II IL amazing that there should re-
main In the United States a single individual
still ollnging to tho fatuous idea that tn. league
OF nations Ia or ever waH a popular idea with
all astute political observers that the 900 900
majority given President Harding was contrib
uted by those who opposed the involvement OF
the United states In the league rather than by
those who were atflrmatlvely for Harding And
on that Issue the same astute political observ-
ers agree the verdict would be even more unani-
nous today than IT was then.
From whence. then. comes this persistent
idea that any considerable number OF American
citizens arc resentful OF the administrators
failure to involve the republic in a society OF
natlonsH Scarcely day has passed since the
eventful election OF 1870 that has not supplied
additional proof OF tho wisdom OF this country
In remaining out OF the league Even foreign
advocates OF tho league have in the interim
changed their minds completely and by the
score have come TO commend unstintedly the
foresight Of tho Americans displayed in their
rejection OF the covenant.
II cannot be said that these editors who are
continuing to follow this wlli-o'- o'-the-wisp are
doing so with tho approval OF those American
senators and leaders who stood for tho league
during the senate debates For It has only been
fow weeks since the pro-league senate bloc.
led by Hitchcock, the league spokesman dur
Ing tho debate, met and warned ali OF their
democratic brethren that tho league would not
be accepted Issue by the democratic
party.
We give this much space to the discussion OF
this subject because It is = battling thing this
tendency. That men equally well-lnformed
should, with precisely the same evidence before
them, arrive at such Numerically opposed con-
cluslons as tho pro-ieague editors and tho anti
There is no campaign on In which this question
America announce a speaking date In advocacy
OF the league of nations, II 10 doubtful II he
could fin the smallest public building in tho
county seat town. As much can be said OF a
speaker who would announce a speech In OPP
position to the league.
The fact OF the matter is that the election OF
1920 Ia construed as having killed the league OF
nations an American issue. 1t will require a
miracle to resurrect that issue and arouse pop
ular interest In Il. Probably serious gesture
by the United states senate to put the United
States into the league would accomplish such
purpose That might he tried, II the pro-
league gentlemen are determined on securing
another demonstraton,