Evening star., 1923-11-14
NEW LEAGUE ISSUE
. F0RCEDbY WILSON
!:
Democratic Leaders Fear to
Offend His Followers by
Sidetracking Fight.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Woodrow Wilson's Armistice day
references to the league of nations
constitute the biggest event In demo-
cratic politics for many a day. Lead
ers are forcibly reminded by them
that the party can not possibly hope
to side-step discussion of Wilsonian
foreign policies at the next national
convention. There are few democrats,
even among Mr.. Wilson's blindest ad-
mirers, who recommend that the
League be "paramounted" as an issue
in 1924, or expect that it will be. But
the sage Of street has sent forth
stern admonition, as they view 1t,
that the party must not attempt to
ignore the program on which it went
down to defeat in 1920 If it does,
it now is certain that there will be
blast and a protest from Woodrow
Wilson that might wreck beyond re-
pair the party's hopes OF victory.
These statements are made upon the
authority of men within the demo-
cratic high command.
Candidates Fight Shy.
None of the candidates now out in
front for the presidential nominate ton
has committed himself very definitely
on the league. Senator Underwood
campaign manifesto stresses the
necessity of constructive policy of
American cooperation in foreign
affairs. William q. McAdoo is not
yet on record at ALL Senator Ralston
of Indiana, favorite among the dark
horse candidates, once was as Ter
vent a league of nations advocate as
Woodrow Wilson himself and has de-
livered countless impassioned speeches
James NJ. Cox, democratic nominee
in 1920, is an out-and-out Lacquer
and as Jealous in his advocacy OF
American entry as ever he was.
Homer s. Cummings of Connecticut,
democratic national chairman three
years ago, and who will be the Nut
meg states favorite son in 1924. Is
still an uncompromising pro-leaguer
Senator Carter Glass of Virginia.
whom many consider to be dark
horse material, is 100 per cent
Lacquer. Former Ambassador John
w Davis of West Virginia and New
York would have taken his stand
unreservedly on the san Francisco
league platform If he had been the
candidate in 1920.
1t was Senator Glass who, on Sun
day last, at Woodrow wilson's door
step. declared That the demonstra-
tion in the former Presidents honor
was to renew faith" in the league
cause Senator Glass il was too, who
read the report of the committee on
platform at the San Francisco con-
vention, which affirmed that:
The democratic party favors the
league Of nations as the surest, If not
the only, practicable means of main
tanning the permanent peace of the
world and terminating the insurer
able burden of great military and
naval establishments"
Fear to Drop Issue.
Democrats of national influence, in
tervieWed in Washington this week
by the writer, We're practically a unit
in declaring that il will not be prac-
tical for the party in 1924 to turn
it's back on the affirmation of 1920.
1t would be a confession of bad faith,
they say, designed to defeat the very
purpose which ignoring of the issue
would seek to accomplish. To desert
the league, or even half-heartedly to
espouse it. would these leaders feel.
inevitably invite the opposition of
the Wilson element in the demo-
cratic party That element is stronger
than is generally understood. 1t still
looks upon the stricken statesman as
its prophet. 1t would resent the omis-
sion or min Anization of the league
issue from the democratic national
platform as an "act Of treason" to
Woodrow Wilson, which neither he
nor his supporters would tolerate in
silence.
Thus professional democratic poll
ticians say, If principle does not suf-
flee to induce the party to reaffirm
loyalty 10 the league. self-interest is
likely to do SO. For it is admitted on
all hands that Woodrow Wilson is
sufficient of a power to decree dis
aster for any platform or any can
didate which courts his disapproval
The proba ability is that when the
committee on resolutions begins its
deliberations at the national conven-
tion physiological ways and means
will be sought for propitiating both
the ardent pro-leaguers of the Will
son type and democrats who would
soft-pedal the issue. 1t is highly un-
likely that the party will venture to
go before the people with the league
as it's outstandiI & program. If an
other referendum were to result in