The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-28
PRESS ON POLITICAL DILEMMA

There appears to be some uncertainty in
our state department relative to the policy
we should assume with reference to Eu-
ropean affairs. At times it has seemed that
we were about to take some definite stand
with regard to representation on European
conferences, and our ministers abroad have
given voice to utterances that had the merit
of both decision and authority. Then these
same ministers have later been ordered to
say nothing and merely to listen in. Thers
was a rumor of some divergence of opinion
between Secretary Hughes and Ambassado,
Harvey, only to be denied promptly and for
mally by both Mr.. Harvey and later, Mr..
Hughes. Mr.. Hughes has also denied the
rumor that he expected to resign. Day by
day our position relative to international
affairs in which we have a direct concern,
but no voice, becomes more equivocal Our
abrupt withdrawal from European affairs
at the beginning of the present administra-
tion, and our application of the policy of
isolation, have put us technically out Of
touch with concerns abroad which in reality
affect us deeply. There are many who now
realize that the policy is mistake, and who
duVOCdlc SUIlc lu0dSuLS VI IcSuHlptlUh VI
the relationships we have severed. Even
the recalcitrant and irreconclable Borab
now comes to the fore with a proposal for
an international conference embracing many
subjects of international and world con-
Germ. The advocates of the League of Ma
tions have plenty of opportunity to say,
"We told you So" but such is the real grav-
jtys Of the situation that not many are avail
ing themselves of this need of retaliation,
although there are many who suggest that
league membership is still open to this gov
eminent.
The Republican Louisville Herald is in
clined to be merry over the whole situation
and says: when our good Democratic
friends are little short of ammunition,
and that is frequent happening, they dope
out dissension in the Harding cabinet and
amuse themselves with a plentiful crop Of
designations" 1t is noted, however, thai
the Republican press also carries the rumors
of such designations and that the Republi-
can press also has on occasion expressed
editorial concern at these rumors. Further
more, some of the designations have actually
taken place. The Herald very strikingly
speaks of Mr.. Harvey as the "pet emetic of
the other sde,' and says that since he was
frequent visitor at the White House and
| Mr.. Hughes was not, that therefore the ru-
NOR goes forth that Mr.. Harvey was "per-
soma gratissima," while Mr.. Hughes is "per-
soma something less than grata." The
Democrats, however, do not hope that Mr..
Hughes will resign, they rather hope that
he will do something to redeem our prestige
and protect our interests abroad.
The Detroit Free Press also devotes con-
siderable space to denying chat weird yarn
about row between Secretary Hughes and
Ambassador Harvey over the American pol
icy regarding Europe, and that equally in
teresting fairy tale about the impending
resignation of the secretary of state because
| some of the senators do not like him.
| Then the Free Press goes on to disprovo
| the yarn and the fairy tale" by argu-
ment which indicates that the row was IN
reality only dispute, and that there is little
proof of the fairy tale. The Free Press gets
somewhat tangled up in its argument, how
ever, when it first alleges that the rumors
were Democratic and "born of an earnest
wish that the fabrications might be true"
and then says that some of the members
Of the upper house of congress who thought
at the outset that they were going to run the
state department from the capitol, and have
found out that they are unable to do SO,
| would like to get Mr.. Hughes out of the sec
retaryship" Is it possible that the Free
| Press thinks that the Democrats in the sem
| ate expected to run the state department
from the capitol?
| The New York Times, burdened by less
partisanship than the newspapers quoted
above, probably comes very near the truth
when it remarks: Evidence has accumu-
lated within the past week to show that a
| Republican faction in the senate has DELHI
| erately set out to worry and discredit the
administration. The strategy made use of is
multiform. Now it is an insinuatng and
exasperating speech. Presently it is reso-
luton of inquiry. Later it is the whispering
Of rumors in the cloakroom speedily finding
their way to the press, as they were in
tended to. and seeking to give the impress
sion of dissensions in the cabinet. This was
manifestly the origin of the report on Sat
urday that Secretary Hughes was about to
resign. 1t was good enough story to sci
! afloat for one day, and its prompt denial
will doubtless set it's authors to work to in.
vent something else equally unfounded and
equally malicious" The Democrats do not
| feel any necessity of striving to create
schism in the Republican ranks. The Re
publicans attend to that very nicely.
In the view Of the st. Louis Post-Dispatch
the Republicans have "hugged the illusion