New-York tribune., 1922-10-21
Colby Declares !
League Victim,
OF Bad II FaitI,
Wickershaln and OtherLe Lead.
ing Republicans Accused
OF Offering Modified Cow
enant for Harding Votes
Explanation Is Sougl,
Appeal Made 10 Change Hu.
initiating Defeat toVictory
OF Intelligent Idealis,n

| The Republican leaders Of the earn.
paign Of 1920 promised to lead the
united States into = modified League
Of Nationu, and failed TO keep thia
promise, Everett Colby charged III 81,
| open letter 70 George W. Wickersham,
made public last night.
MIR. Colby, who IL a former New Jcr-
scy State Senator and leader Of the
Now Jersey Progressives in tho lata
campaign, said both Mr.. Wlckcrsbam
and other prominent Republicans had
given this premise ard it was only be-
causee Of ii that ne had thrown his vote
and influence to the support OF Hard
ing.
After outlining the failure of the
present Administration to bring up the
question Of this pledge, Mr. Gojby
Urged Mr. Wickersham to reorranixe
ms political allies Of 1920 and change
humilsating defeat into real victory
ior the idealian1 and intelligence Of
League Plank Urged
Mr.. Colby pointed out that when y.
was member Of the COMMITTEES an
pointed to draft tentative platform
Sor the consideration of tho Republican
National Convention in 1920, Mr. wick
ersham had urged him TO recommend q
plank favoring the entry OF The United
States into League OF Nations. While
that committee Tas in session In Wash
tngton, Ms. Colby wrote, he received
telephone call from MIR. Wickershani
asking that such resolution be with
drawn. as the latter had become con-
vinced that plang would be put into
>tpN tai
isfy those Republicans anxious Cor
American entry into the league.
You will recall" the letter read,
"that On October Is, 1920, You signed
q statement with many leading Repub-
licans, including Mr. Root, Mr.. Hughes,
Mr.. Henry Taft and Mr.. Nicholas MUIR
ray. Butler, urging those in favor OF en-
tering the league TO vote for Mr.. Hard
Ing as the surest way to hiring that
event to pass. In that statement you
said that the true course to bring
/ to Cali upon the other nations to
agree to changes In the proposed agree
mont which will obviate the vital OBJ
jectious and the other objections less
subject to dispute
Harding Reported Willing
"And again you said: THE conditions
o? Europe make it essential that the
stabilizing effect Of the treaty already
| made between tho European powers
shall not be lost by them, and that the
necessary changes be made by chang
Ing she terma of that treaty rather
than BY beginning entirely anew That
course Mr. Harding is willing to fol-
low"
Only one conclusion could be drawn
from the statement nt--namely, that tho
Republican leaders intended to enter
the league, with reservations, Mr.. Colby
word Of these men to cast his vote and
influence for Mr.. Harding.
u do not charge these men," the let
ter vent on, with an attempt to de-
ceavc the public, but do criticize
them for their failure to lead. When
q person voluntarily assumes the Lead
ership In any cause he becomes morally
responsible to those who accept his
leadership. For these reasona l be-
ieve the men who signed that state
inent should do something to assert
thcir influence or explain to those
who followed them the reasons for
their silence and inaction.
No Fight Made
"Of course, | know that radically
changed conditions might make it OBJ
tion pledges, but the condition of the
world to-day, II seems to me, makes il
moro than ever desirable and obliga-
tory for us to do our share in the
great task Of reorganizing Europe, and
ana convinced that had the group of
men who signed that statement made
anything like real fight, we would
now be in tho league and cooperating
generously with our former allies. But
no such fight was made.
'sThe question now is what can be
done in the future to straighten out a
situation that is rapidly becoming not
constant. reiteration OF the statement
by our LEADERS, that we can have moth
ing TO do with Europe becomes tstterls
confusing and hypocritical when taken
In conjunction with our perpetual In
reference in every part of the world.
1t is situation that should no longer
be tolerated. II it is the policy Of the
country TO ignore Europe, let US ignore
Europe. II it ia the policy to coop
crate, let US cooperate in some digai-
fed and effective way.
"But whence this policy of ignoring
Europe! Whence this policy of fear
and timidity; this nosey, gossipy. in
quisitiye and irritating policy that
nags but doesn't help?
6When we were small and weak we
faced the world lion-hearted. When
we are strong and great we play tho
craven's part. Cannot something be
done. and will you not help? Because
I believe in you and your ability am
asking you to take up the burden to
reorganize your group Of 1920 and
change huyniliating defeat into real
victory for the idcalism and intelli-
gence Of America"