The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-02
WARE THE POLITICIANS


ficult to see how the Republican party
can survive half pro and half anti.
1t appears strange politics to make of
the court an issue at all, and especial
ly the cause of split within the party.
For there is no doubt that the situation
is due to political lamentations. The
only question now is whether the re-
suit will be political wine or vinegar.
Perhaps the whole trouble is due to
the attempt to put new wine into old
skins The Old Guard cannot stand
the pressure, while the Progressives
pop the cork in season and out of
season.
Chairman Adams of the Republican
national committee seeks to reiterate
the party disapproval of the state de-
partment's foreign policy, but Secre-
tary Hughes remains unmoved, there
by exciting general admiration. Presi-
dent Harding is between two fires,
neither of which he desires to put out.
One is an aggressive party program
for the coming campaign, and the,
other is the plain duty of the govern
ment as regards our foreign relations.
Boiled down, however, the trouble APP
pears to be largely personal. With
some one else than Mr.. Adams at the
head of the partys program the entire
situation might be changed. 1t is
highly probable, for example, that Mr..
Will Hays, with his talent for diplo-
macy, could occupy the Craftsmanship
without creating or desiring to create
friction. Doubtless Mr.. Hays thinks
that government is one thing and poll
tics is another. Government is open
and outspoken, while politics, especial
ly in a crisis like the present, covers
all its internal differences under
cloak which presents to the public gaze
an aspect of harmony and solidarity.
The great drawback to such concept
now is that the public's attention has
been attracted to the real condition
before the cloak has been applied.
One thing is certain, this govern
ment cannot honorably retreat from
it's position with respect to foreign re-
lationships, nor can it properly be CEN
sured for undertaking with France ne
gotiations similar to those recently
completed with Great Britain. If we
permitted the British debt to be fund
ed and deferred, we cannot either In
honor or justice demand immediate
payment from France, especially as
we know that France has honestly
spent hundreds of millions of francs,
and even billions, in repairing war
ravages such as England did not suf-
fer. Nor can we adopt such pro-
gram as Mr.. Adams has suggested and
withdraw absolutely from negotiations
with the powers. Such a policy would
be commercial suicide, to say nothing
of irremediable loss Of diplomatic
prestige.
Thus the Republican political and
campaign policy becomes a subject OF
a concern Tar UIdlSCeIlulIS iiiOiO Pci ~
lines, whenever such policy seeks to
interfere, for political purposes, with
the legitimate functions of our gov
eminent and with our high executive
officials. The whole nation has al
ready suffered much from misguided
politicians and their selfish exercise of
influence and authority. The time
has come to put stop to that sort of
thing, and to demand that the politi-
clans keep their hands off. There is
more than ever an urgent national
need for leaders of statesmanlike
stature and ability. The Republican
administration has revealed only too
few of such caliber. The people will
do we'll to consider the situation
thoughtfully and to determine upon
some means of rescuing the nation
from mere politicians.