Evening star., 1924-11-02
EYES OF EUROPE
ON u. S. ELECTION
Continent Has No Choice Be-
tween Candidates Apparent,
Harden Declares.
ny MACMILLAN HARDEN

Dy Radio to The Star.
BERLIN, November 1.-How much
the opinion of the Old World regard
ing the position Of the United States
has changed in the last 15 years, and
: oven the last 10 years, is especially
noticeable in the effects of the presi
Dental election campaign.
When Theodore Roosevelt, William
H. Taft. and even Woodrow Wilson
were disputing entrance to the White
House. Europe was little interested
In the distant struggle. So little was
known about the structure of the
inner. political life of the States that
even educated Europeans were mis-
led by the curious names of the two
great parties into believing that the
Republicans were not democratically
inclined. and that the Democrats did
not need to be republicans, but might
incline toward monarchy,
Result important.
The result of the contest was con-
sidered unimportant. Even industry.
foreign trade and high finance were
interested only when the great ques-
tions of tariff (Mckinley) and BIZ
metallism (Bryan) We're on the cleo
lion card.
Such issues were lacking this time.
marine service is not costing too
much. whether it is practicable to
lower taxes or modify prohibition,
how the farmers of the Middle West
can best be helped-these questions,
which have not even separated the
two old parties with a clear-cut line,
do not move the European mind to
enthusiastic interest any more than
does the immigration bill, which Is
ha{ o0 wi
Asia
Tho writer wonders whether tho
election results may be obscured by
lack OF strongly emphasized idealism
IN the programs Of the parties, which
would play on the Imagination of the
people. The masses want to flee
from the cold air of the empty house
of reason to the warm hope of vague
Utopian promises.
A plan for the task which America
rs the leading power in the new
world order, can and will accomplish,
would have procured votes from all
classes of people for the party hav-
ing this on its. banner Though this
did not happen, the thermometer of
interest has risen here to a degree
which would not have been believed
possible in 1914.
There Is certainly no lack of po-
litical variety on this continent. Eng
land Is examining the balance of her
first experiment with labor gov
ernment- France feels obliged to
recognize the soviet government.
1taly's oppressed democracy is seek
Ing courage for an attempt to burst
its chains. Spain is clinging with
bleeding arms to the last remains Of
crumblinE empire, whose greatness
once gave rise to the proud words
that the sun never set therein. In
Germany elections also are taking
place.
The first contest, at Hamburg,
proved that the indifferent, tired, dull
masses are hard to bring to the bal
lot box, and despite proclamations of
certain victory, the result was a DEM
ocratic defeat. Wilhelm II dares to
repeat in an. American review all the
malicious childish fairy tales upon
which his remorseless vanity oftan
Sloated, completing it with ignorant
abuse of the Dawes report and the
League of Nations. His eldest son,
fhe former crown prince, officially
visits Rupprecht, who calls himself
King of Bavaria, and is addressed a.
majesty He receives in Munich all
the dignitaries of monarchy, the worst
enemies OF the republic. He cares lit
Tie for the impression created that the
IIohen5ollern and Wittelsbach heads
arc deliberating on d restoration
plan.
Sec History Change.
But all that Is not half so much
talked of as the American elections.
The 4th of November is regarded here
as the date Of a change in the worlds
history. This belief Is so great that
it has become ridiculous. Not only in
the banks and the stock exchange has
one heard for weeks Of this datum
fatum. but II you want to buy a hat
and find the price too high, you are
told that a change can be expected
only after the American election.
Midst all this nonsense, however,
the right idea is to be found: namely,
that In the United States the choice
for good or evil is made these DAYS.
Every American abroad who has OBJ
served the changed position of his
country may be proud. But every
voter should remember, before he
casts his ballot, that power and
noblesse oblige, he should reflect that
tive continents are watching the cleo
tion, and that his country has a be-
nevolent mission to fulfil such as has
not been given to any nation since the
great days of acient Greece.
s.t. Copyright, 1924.t