The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-09-23

WASHINGTON. Sept. 23.-Revival
Of the league of nations as an issue, the
fiat statement that the election of 1920
was not verdict against the league and
that a man must be sought to lead pub
lie opinion on this question would have
passed by political Washington as of
secondary Importance today were it not
for the fact that John Fl. Clarke. re-
Gently resigned as associate justice of
the supreme court of the United States
issued public statement embodying
those sentiments.
Mr.. Clarke's resignation was unex-
pected and so is his public appeal at
time when Former Governor Cox who
returned recently from Europe sees the
political wisdom of soft pedaling the
league as an issue Just before the CON
gressional elections and when Demo
Gratis generally prefer to focus attention
on the work of the Republican congress.
The Independent spirit of Justice
Clarke's appeal is what attracted atten-
ton. Most people here intimate in
Democratic affairs were at a loss to
interpret the statement They didn't
know whether it signifed a break with
Former Governor Cox with whom lie
has been politically friendly in the past
or whether it fOreshadowed a readiness
TO iOin with Mr.. Cox in espousing the
league issue energetically. the moment
the congressional elections are over.
Suspected As Cox Move.
When Justice Clarke speaks of
searching for the man to lead the
league movement. it is naturally as
sumed that he has searched Ohio at
least. but when it is recalled he wrote
a very warm letter to Governor Cox
lust after the 1920 elections and praised
him for the fight he made in behalf of
the league, the chances are Justice
Clarke isn't going to express q prefer
ence but viii Join with others who favor
the league and form a non-partisaa
body TO which Republicans as well as
Democrats who believe i'm international
cooperation can subscribe and the like
I lihood is that it viii not become pc
| litical body until the attitude of the
| 1924 candidates is defined.
So far as Justice Clarke himself Is
| concerned. he starts out exactly as did
! Justice Hughes when reports first be-
| gan to circulate that he was seeking
| the presidential nomination" Mr..
! Clarke denies he is seeking any public
| Office" He doesn't say of course that
| he wouldn't accept a nomination.
| Neither would Mr.. Hughes as the latter
| would be to tiatter oneself into behey-
ing a nomination would be rendered.
, and he couldn't bring himself to believe
| such would be the case. Yet his y"ry
| attitude led 10 the nomination. And he
accepted.
But the activity of Governor Cox is
| mt this time of even greater political
| -ignificance With characteristic I'M
| Willingness to remain defeated on any
| thing. Governor Cox who like Justice
| 90 > L., b4g-
ing issue went to Furone to study CON
ditions first hand He fooled those who
| expected him to complieate the nolitfcal
| situation on his return hv emphasizing
the LEAGUE question. The RepuhheanS
| would have welcomed the iuterjection
Of any academic question which mlmht
draw attention from industrial troubles
ard other accumulated political diff
| culties Instead Gov. Cox content nd
| himself on his return hv saving the
| league of nations was doing nicely ana
| that at the proper time the league cove
ront would be revised to suit the
| United States.
Catching German Interest.
OF far more Importance to this cum
! paign however. was Mr. Cox mpHed
| charge that Republican Indifference to
! Europe was responsible for Germany :
! plight He insisted that reparatlons
| was the big issue and that America
should have been represented on the
reparations commission. As conSe-
mence of his speech Mr.. Cox is receiving
/ invitations to speak in German communI-
| ties as well as before trade bodies and
| business organizations Interested IN the
development of commerce with Central
| Europe.
1t is acknowledged that the sweeping
Republican victory i'm 1920 was due in
| large part to the acquisition of Demo
cratic voters of Irish and German de-
scent. The Germans felt hostile to the
league because they dislike President
Wilson'S connection with it. The Irish
| thought the league meant Strengthening
of British influence and rigid covenant
that compelled the United States to help
Great Britain against Ireland.
| Since that time the Irish Free State
! has been created and Ireland herself has
?pplied for membership i'm the league and
Great Britain has agreed to vote for Ire
lands admission AS for Germany. her
statesmen. are clamOring for admission
to the league and France alone stands in
| the way.
Democrats Hope To Get Them
The Democrats are counting upon the
return to their party of these elements
which were diSaffectcd in 1920. They
Ievpect the league to be an asset instead
of liability i'm 1924 and Governor Cox
is planning to enter whole heartedly into
the congressional campaign and speak his
mind on the subject of American aid in
settling the reparation problem.
Since his return from Europe. Senator
| Mckinley and Representative Britten Of
! Illinois. two Republicans. have come
hack. too with friendly words for the
| league. The invasion of Europe by
! American tourists is also counted upon
to increase sentiment for American CO.
| operation with Europe. Governor Cox
feels that the American neople are in a
receptive mood to hear about the league
and to support solution of world prob-
lens with American aid. Justice Clarke
feels the same way and that's the signifi-
canoe of his statement. Two results are
| likely to flow from the situatior--the Re
publican administration under Mr.. Hard
ng's leadership viii take more active
part in world affairs and agree to an