Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-31

pickles were served.
DR.. WILKINSON
TALKS OF POLITICS
TO W0MAN'S CLUB
DR.. William ]. Wilkinson, head OF
the history department at Colby coll
ieSe delivered an interesting and in
structive lecture on 1.-THE Three Po-
iitcal Platforms" before the mem
pers or the educational department
vi the WatervIlle Woman's club at Il
meeting held yesterday afternoon in
library hail. The hostesses of the
meeting were Mrs. A. f. Drummond
and Mrs. Grace Bartlett.
DIR. Wilkinson said that in a Der
tectiy impartial, neutral and nom
partisan spirit he wanted to present
the proposals of the various political
groups and their spokesman with re-
spect to the relations Of our govern
fnent with other nations. He added
that he wished to consider more par
tcularly the programs of the three
parties in so far as thew indicated
what the attitude of the United
States should be towards Europe and
European problems. He said that all
the parties seemed to agree that a
policy of isolation was unwise. No
voice was heard during the campaign
advocating program 81 aloofness.
1t was realized on all hands that
Il
Tho farmers in the west were learn
ing that one of the>tauses for the
low prices of their products had been
partially due to the restricted pur-
chasing power of Europe. With the
economic recovery of Europe the
people across the seas were Begin
ming to buy, with the result that
American wheat. copper. cotton and
other raw materials We're in greater
demand. This in turn enabled the
farmers of the west. the cotton grow
ers of the south and the miners in the
copper fields of Montana to buy more
generously in the stores.
And the stores in turn made great
err purchases in the industrial CEN
ters of the east.
The speaker quoted a government
expert of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce at Washington to
show how. indirectly, America would
be benefited by the financial restor-
alton Of Germany. Chile, for eX-
ample, according to this report, sold
large quantities of nitrate to Ger
many before the war. and when Ger
many went virtually INTO national
bankruptcy. Chile's prosperity was
correspondingly affected. If Germany
then reSains her buying power. and
becomes again Il buyer of Chilean nj
trates. Chile in turn should prosper.
and as one of the incidental results
OF the cycle. Chile may be expected
to import more goods from the
United States"
This item was referred to as only
one of the many instances to show
how Independent the nations of the
world are upon one another. AL
though the three political parties
were agreed as to this fundamental
fact they were not in agreement as
TO the methods which should be
adoped by the United States In pro-
noting the welfare of Europe.
Professor Wilkinson then proceed
ed to examine the foreign policy
which was advocated by the Rcpub-
lican party and more particularly by
speechs. Quoting from the platform
of the party he said that it was the
belief of he Republicans that the
United States could be the most USE
full to Europe and the world in giving
encouragement and support in every
way possible without political COM
mitments which would involve us in
a conflict of European policies" The
Washington Conference for the Linz
itation of Armaments was cited by
the Republicans as an example of
how this country can helpfully par
ticipate in world affairs. The atti-
tude of former President Harding
and his successor in the White House
towards the World Court is set forth
as another example OF benefcent in
huences in promoting the cause Of
universal peace. The work of the
Dawes commission in solving the
tangled problem of German repara-
tions is referred to as an instance of
unofficial participation in interna-
tional matters.
The fact that the program to out
law war which has been recently
adopted in Geneva and is substan-
TALLY the work of an American BAN
ker. an American general and an
American professor, could also be
instanced to prove the practicability
of the foregoing policy.
Turning to a consideration OF the
Democratic proposals which should
determine our foreign policy. the
speaker reminded his hearers of the
fact that both the old parties were
in agreement as to the desirability
of the nations adherents to the
World Court. Although the Demo-
cratic platform advocated a referen-
dun whereby the voters might ex-
press their will as to America joining
tie League of Nations it is generally
accepted that the election of Mr..
Davis would be a step forward in
the contamination of such a goal.
Despite the fact that Mr.. Davis In
a recent speech at Princeton. \. j..
declared that it would be useless for
the United States to enter the league
unless such a move had the support
of he American people. the fact re-
mains that he embodies the view
that we can best serve Europe and
the world by entry into this inter
national body. Mr.. Davis is looked
upon as having been born under the
political star of Woodrow Wilson and
as such has inherited Wilsonian
ideals. Consequently he stands forth
in the present campaign as the
spokesman for the League of Ma
tions.
Professor Wilkinson then stated
the foreign policy which Mr.. La
Toilette and the Progressive party
are advocating. According to the
platform Of the third party the