New-York tribune., 1922-12-27
The Volunteer Firemen

II IL lucky for the world that the
President Of the United States at
the moment happens TO possess a
patient soul and a sense Of humor. II
\ he had not all chance Of assisting
Europe would have gone glimmer-
(. ing In the wrangle Of rival butt-ins
/, end busybodics.
II is, Of course, great event
Nto have these volunteer fremen
! from the Middle West discover
Europe, reverse their entire record
! and begin to clamor for an eco
/ nomic conference to put out the
i, European blaze. But the history Of
!, Tho case reads that Mr.. Harding and
Mr.. Hughes, taking advantage OF
the first favorable moment in senti-
inent at home and abroad, initiated
the move TO help As every one
! knows, helping was not a simple
matter and common sense de-
manded that the moves be tactful
) and conSderate Of many conflicting
points Of view. So Messrs. Harding
|, and Hughes went. about their task
quietly and cautiously.
But such temperate and efficient
Presidential leadership said nothing
; 10 the political needs Of those SEN
ate irreconcilables who have been
hearing from home as to how the
farmers were not as isolated as they
thought they were and could some
thing be done quick to get better
market for their wheat? So SEN
ator Borah rushes of and pulls on
his red shirt and helmet and winds
a trumpet call for an economic con-
ference. That he undoubtedly has
, said more than any other public
man 10 frlghten Americans from the
very thought Of helping Europe
! does not worry him in the least.
DThe New York World" runs up
with the League Of Nations In its
arms and pins a medal on his chest.
, The Senator from California pulls
, his hose 70 the scene and drenches
} an hands with the old irreconcilable
/, siush-that Senator Borah used to
squirt 80 gayly.
Il certainly Is not easy to recon-
cile England, France, Germany, the
| American people and two-thirds Of
the Senate amid such an uproar.
But President Harding is the man
for the Job If il can be done. He
/ knows that the country will not
stand with the irrecOncilables at
Z. either end-with the League Of
Nations fanatics or with the anti
league isolahonists. When a Sen
ator he voted for the league with
reservations-and II Senator Borah
and handful of his farm bloc
tricnds had not then been irrecon-
cllable isolationists the modified
league and the treaty would have
been ratified. His problem now Is
20 utilize the new wisdom that has
come 70 these iIreconcilables and
graft Mr.. Borah and his friends
who want a wheat market into q
general scheme Of aid that will be
acceptable 70 Europe.
OF course, at the end Mr.. Boraf
probably will run out Of the move
ruent, as he has run out before. Tha
II the way Of volunteer fremen
who care more for their red shirts
than for putting out the fire. Blu
wheat Is wheat, and II the need Of 1
market therefor can awaken a suf
acient number Of Middle Westerr
Senators 20 the existence Of Europ'
Mr.. Harding may well accomplish
something. At any rate. he is I
stanch and generous figure amoni
the cyclists Of Washington and h'
deserves and viii receive the sup
port Of every American who hatei
claptrap and thinks that hollerinl
is poor way 70 put out a fire.