The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-21
WILSON LEAGUE STILL B|G ISSUE 1 IN MISSOURI RACE
Reed Continues Opposition to World Union-Is Being i Fought by Anti-SaIoon
 League
By WILLIAM FRANCIS Special Dispatch to The Age Herald (Copyright, 1S22. by The Age-Hernld)


 oerats of Missouri go to the polls Au gust l to choose between Senator James Reed and Breckenridge Long former Third Assistant Secretary ot State, as their candidate for the United States Senate, they will mol choose between Reed and Long, but between Reed and former President Wilson.
 This was the big issue when the campaign began and it has become more and more outstanding, until now 1t overshadows everything else It has been empha sized by active participation on the part Of MT. VII son and the reiterated statements of the candidates on their attitude to- ward the League of Nations.
 Reed tells the voters:
 T voted against the league becau SC | believed it imperfled the republic. hnd so believing, could not support it. My views have not changed"
 Long replies:
 we reflected the treaty of Yer eailles and decided to live isolated and alone--to stand aloof from asso- citation with other nations-and the dates of the rejection of the treaty, the loss of our trade and the begin ming of our business depression, all coincide"
 Small Personal Following
 Longs personal following is small compared with that of Reed, but tns league supporters and the Wilson foi- lowers and most of the organization wheel horses are with him Reed following is his own. Longs name draws neither cheers nor misses from an audience, while Reed is loved ana hated heartily. And with all his oio- time eloquence, he is making the 5 campaign of his life to rouse his ad- mirers and convert his enemies.
 Whenever and wherever Reed gets hearing, he makes votes. for the power to sway mems minds ahu hearts is in him. He has bottled up the vitriol though the cork flies ou. occasionally and is making an appeal for harmony in the party and reeos- milton of his own honesty or purpose In the great crisis of his career, Reed has revealed an unexpeeteo phase of his personality. He is nrey without intense bitterness ana Wie's without cutting sarcasm.
 Touched by his eloquence, which has always been a powerful force ana carried away by his evident sincerity men are slowly gathering to his pan . ner whether it will be physicais nossible for him to place his masie touch on enough of the audiences De- fore the primary to turn what was an sbbing to a flood remains to De seen The most experienced poiitlcal perts are taking no chances their reputations by making preoie tons Most of them believe that, al sha nresent time, Reed probably ,ron,d he defeated. But there Is no aa,,narison between his campaign and Longs and August is 10 weeks away. -.
 Missouri likes men, fighting men and Missouri audiences seem 10 iih' Feeds straightforward way Of admit ting that he has made mistakes pe- ca,ise he did his duty as he saw IL.
 q don't know of single impor.~n vota I would change, If l had It .e do over again." he declares. "Nopody ever knew me to back-track or fincn resnonsibility. have made mistakes hut God has not as yet made any in' fallible human beings. Even the series of letters to St Louis democrats in which Wooorow Wilson denounced Reed and asked that he be defeated, and an attack py the anti-saioon league of Missouri failed to bring from Reed sucn oi..
  career in the Senate and In s'ae' politics.
 One of the Wilson letters. the one addressed to the St. Louis Globe Democrat. said:
 "Reed has shown himself incapable of sustained allegiance to any person or cause"
 Reeds reply to this was; :. If I have any reputation II probably is that have too stupporn- ly adhered to causes.
 The Wilson letter was written as a result of the use in the Reed cam paian of a letter written by Wilson in 1913. in which Wilson expressed his cordial feelings for the senator Wilson, in his letter to the Glope- Democrat, denied recollection of ever writing such a letter.
 Is Being Generous
 Reed, in the fury of the moment said that Wilson had forgotten things he had said and was remembering things he didn't say. but during the campaign, Reed has contented him. self with casual references to the letters and such statements as:
 T can afford to be generous with man who is both mistaken and sick at the same timel'
 Tha Rev. w. c. Shupp, superin- tenQenL or LHt dhAi-saAOoA iGa NS, OA announcing the adoption of reso- lution by that organization opposing Reed for the nomination, declared that he was "the chief strength ir Congress of the anti-prohibition for ees.''
 Reed answered.: "When did it hap pen that MT. Shupp, who. so far as know, has no interest in politics except to draw his salary. obtain the right to advise the democratic party"
 Long's speeches have been lacking in the spectacular. If he is nominate ted there Is chance of serious rift ii democratic ranks. Reed denies this however.
 Don't let anybody worry about my not supporting the ticket" he said the other day. T always have and always shall. But I'm not going tc be defeated, so I'll refuse to discuss that"