Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-27
SENATOR HIRAM TELLS US

SENATOR HIRAM TELLS US
In some ways Senator Hiram john
sons speech seems to justify his long
silence. indeed may excite conjecture
why he has broken that silence at
this time Certainly he has contribu-
ted nothing new for the enlighten-
ment Of the public beyond the mere
fact that he is Of the same mind still,
Notwithstanding four and a half
months -,sojourn in seven different
countries. the language Of most Of
which it is presumed the Senator
neither speaks nor understands, not
.withstanding, too. that he assumes
ito clear up a few points. Possibly
one Of these is his objection to the
World Court, which is not surprising
to those who have followed the Sena-
tors mental processes as expressed.
The World Court he declared to be
utterly futile, but it is not to be sup
posed that he arrived at this point Of
view from inspecting it. He says the
foreign people take no stock in it and
very likely there is some basis for
this contention. Quite few GEN.
turtles ago wise observer noted that
"the stone which the builders refused
is become the hcadstone Of the cor
ner". He would question the weight
of Secretary Hughes espousal of the
World Court by referring to Hughes
former opinion that we should on the
establishment of the League of Ma
tons have taken part under proper
restrictions. But 1t is not clear how
may he question the self-evident
truth Of this declaration recently
made by Secretary Hughes: IF con-
troversies over legal rights are to be
determined peacefully, there must be
tribunal to determine them. This
Is true. may say, in international as
we'll as in national affairs, and the
American love of peace and sense of
right, and the conviction born of our
own experience, have made it a def
mite part Of American policy that we
should do all in our power to secure
provision~for the peaceful settlement
OF international disputes by the es.
Enlistment Of permanent tribunal
of International justice. Our partic-
ular interests as nation require it, in
order to give more adequate protec-
ton to our own rights: the interests
Of the world demand it,.
Compare this with what Senator
Johnson had to say, these reasoned
words of a logical far-seeing mind as
against Johnsons contention that
such court Is futile, that it would be
worse than futile for this country to
encourage or recognize it, that in at
fairs with other nations we should
assume to interpret the law to suit
ourselves. One Is reminded of those
who dream Of the super-man, of him
who is above the law or a law unto
himself. Some of us have seen, not
supermen, but those who would have
us believe they were law unto
themselves, and we have not reckoned
them good citizens.
One may have respect for differ
ence of opinion regarding the inter-
relations of the Court and the League,
though we have been unable to be-
lieve that entering the former made
it logically necessary to enter the
latter and we find that nowhere does
Senator Johnson advance any con-
elusive argument to prove that it
does. His saying that it does proves
nothing, even if he has spent four or
five months in Europe.
And when he tells US that what Eu-
rope wants of us is our money and
our power he is telling no more than
what many of US believed already Of
the ruling and commercial forces.
Among the common people it is pos
sible another desire has place. but
whatever Europe thinks Of us it Is
highly desirable that we should think
we'll of ourselves with reason. And,
somehow, Uncle Sam strutting UP
and down his frontiers and telling his
neighbors In clarion tones just where
they get of hardly meets with all the
requirements. That appears to be
q prominent feature Of what Hiram
johnson would have our foreign pol
icy. All must agree with him that we
have problems of our own, serious
problems. Our administration has re-
NAMED on the job OF attending to
these while the distinguished senator
has been touring Europe-as he had q
perfect right to do-and much has
been done toward the solution Of
those most pressing. We would like
Senator johnson to tell US how those
remaining unsolved may be solved
and see him take off his coat and
help do 1t. And, judging from the at
mosphere noticeable at the banquet
his insistence that the occasion had
no political significance and the I'M
mistakable evidence that such insist
sncs on his part and the part Of the
sponsors was Of great political sig
nihcance. he ought to find a little
leisure in which to cooperate with
the Harding administration in what
Il II trying to do to improve condi-
Hons here at home.