The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-10-04
'FIREIGNEISSQES
! IN ELECTION N .
/. STATl.EFORESEEN
Near East situatlo nand In
dorsement Of League by
Democrats Cited.
By CHARLES CROOKS sMlTH.

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:
isionalj 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
1t gets to going strong and the yot.
ers become aroused.
1.-THE World War;" declared Mr..
Cooper today, taught the peopla
Of West Virginia with startling,
shocking swittness and clearness
that the United States is not as
far removed from Europe's thea
tiers OF warfare that they had
thought. It taught them also that
conscrlpting our boys to fight. In
European wars was a thing that
could happen that they never
thought could . or would happen,
since 1t never did happen, -
'In 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 Viz.
gtnia, especially and ,conspicuousIy
its candidate for the United States
Senate, Major Nicely, Is committed
to 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 Virginians who gave their
boys by the thousands to General
Pershing to defend the honor and
uphold the rights OF this nation,
as we'll 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 i:
is, in my opinion, that It 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 po-
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 a mandate over
Armenia, an army on the ground
to maintain 1t, achievements leav.
ing our shores for It, and Congress
now in session levying taxes and
appropriating billions with which
to carry through the enterprise.
~ do not pyerdraw the picture.
Our recent experience seems to IN.
dictate that the picture Is under.
, drawn. II anything.
1.-THE Democratic party in West
Virginia is committed to the
League. Candidate Nicely is IRE.
vocably committed to It. He is
running for an office the term OF
which is for six years. 1t 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 It 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 n
fore.runner.
"These are. some Of the reasons
that have caused me to form the
opinion that domestic political
questions will be suhordinated 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
embroiling our government in Euro
pean politics, intrigue, land.grab.
bling by the artistic means Of the
mandate business, and the inevita.
bic 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 untmportant
compared to the League Of Nations
membership question when the
fathers and mothers in West Wiz.
ginia who do the voting get down
to the business Of calmly invest.
eating to see that the partieE and