San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-12
COOLIDGE To
I DODGE ISSUE
If POSSIBLE
VIII Try to Reserve World
Court Comment Until
After Campaign.
PARTISANS INSISTENT
Council Of Churches Calls
! on Americans to Study
Plan for Peace. |
PARTISANS INSISTENT
By DAVID LAWRENCE

q
= Washington, ID. c., Oct. 12.-Politi.
clans may pose but partisans dispose
4 President Coolidge would like to
: sidetrack the world court issue until
after the 1924 campaign, but the
champions of the world court will not
let him.
World Court Week has been pro-
& claimed for example, by the FEEDER
I ated Council of Churches of Amer
T 1ca TO be given over TO study of the
issue by all Christian organizations
that hold regular meetings from No
yember D to IL, such as church prayer
groups, home and foreign mission So
cieties, Young Mems Christian Asso-
Citations, Young Women's Christian
Associations, student volunteer move
ment classes, Christian Endeavor So
cieties and EpwOrth Leagues.
The federal council will also ask
that chambers of commerce. labor Or
ganizations, oranges, Rotary. Kiwanis.
Civitan, advertising and other clubs.
American Legion posts, all women's
organizations and all peace societies
provide program for discussion of the
proposal that America enter the per-
manent court of international justice
now sitting at The Hague.
Mr.. Coolidge has not said a word
publicly about the court since he took
the oath of office.
The organizations friendly to the !
proposition still hope he will but they !
plan an agitation of the subject any
how to present the pro and con.
Since the death of President Hard |
ing, friends of the new President
have been telling him that it would
be politically disastrous to say any
1mng about the world court as it |
would divide the Republican party and
injure Mr.. Coolidge's own chances of /
winning the presidential nomination.
Communications have gone to the
President himself asking for his views
but they have not been revealed TO
the public.
Coolidge Can Wait.
The political argument made is that
Mr.. Coolidge can wait until after
the 1924 nominating convention Is
over before committing himself on the
issue.
There is, of course, no urgent need
for action g far as selecting new
judges or giving financial support TO
the court.
Also any nation may appeal to the
world court whether a member of that |
body or not.
But the Federal Council of Churches
consider the issue nen-partisan and
IS insisting on campaign of educa-
tion. |,
Five weary years have passed
since the armistice," says the Fed
eral Council in formal statement. +
1T has become clear to most that
the final establishment of permanent
peace between nations will not come
at bound.
Come it will. but only through
long and patient processes of national ,
and international education: through
willingness of nations to make con-
cessions one to another. through de-
sire for helpful international cooper
alton and through the creating, byl
constructive craftsmanship. of the
Instruments and agencies Of a world
peace system.
Will BE Up To Senate.
AT the coming session of Congress
the Senate will have to decide whether
or not the United States shall accept
that proposition (that of the late
President Harding and Secretary
Hughes) and become one of the sun
|
On that decision will depend to a
large degree the future relations of
the United States TO the other nations
of the world.
The question of American member
shin is not a partisan issue.
This commission on international
Justice and good will of the Federal +,
Council Of Churches of America be- !
lieves that the churches heartily ap-
prove OF American membership in the |
world court, and earnestly desire the :
Senate to accept. without mutilation
or substantial modification, the pro- ;
posals of the late President as for
INFLATED in his message to the Senate {
February "a. 1923"
Nothing is said in the statement ,
about President Coolidge's action. n
The campaign will be conducted on
the basis of what his predecessor anil
the present secretary of state say
though an effort no doubt will he ,
made to get an expression from Mr.. :
Coolidge for use during World Court ,,
Week.
The Democrats in the United
States will not let the issue slumber.
If Mr. Coolidge does not come ont
suuarely for the world court in his
address TO Congress in December. thrv
viii assume that he is against the
measure and carry on their campaign
accordingly.
The issue will not be allowed TO
get sidetracked even though Favorable
action may not be secured till afSr
the 1924 campaign.