The Omaha morning bee., 1924-08-24
Davis Would Have
BlockedExperts' Work.

1T sounds well to say, as Mr.. Davis
does-If I become president of the
United States, America will sit as an
equal among equals, whenever she
sits at ALL This has been true. of
course, at all times, but the inference
seems to be that had Mr.. Davis been
president of the United States, and
his nominee secretary of state, there
would not have been any American
participation in the expert committee
that IL the matter had come up at
all, 1t would have been thrown into
an eternal and futile debate in the
United States senate, where American
participation would have perished be.
cause the senate would not have al.
lowed the word official. to attach
to 1t.
Success, and success, alone, has
prevented the work Of the expert com
mittee from being dragged in the
mire OF political demogoguery. The
president and the secretary of state
fearlessly faced facts as they were
and the situation a 1t was. The Amer
leans invited by the reparation COM
mission to serve on the expert com.
mittee were named by President. Cool
ldge and Secretary Hughes. In thus
naming them, they placed behind
these men, in the eyes of humanity,
the stars and stripes, and took the
only step which could have been TAX
en- to save the United States the un-
speakable disgrace Of not having as.
sisted the allies and Germany and the
world toward the happiness and pros
perity which comes from the final
settlement of Christian peace.
Again, he 10 an honest and con-
sclentious believer in tho League OF
Nations and Its competency to be an
agency for peace. But is he practically
constructive? The platform of the
democratic party. on which he stands,
invites the nation back into the fog
bank Of debate on the league, and in.
to a referendum for which there Is
neither law nor procedure, to as
certain whether the people have
changed their minds about II, as this
action would indicate that the demo
cratic party believes possible. With
him I would welcome the day when
this great question would be entirely
lifted above the plane OF partisan poll.
tics, when men will cease 10 take
counsel solely of their passions, their
pride and their fear But this 10 only
what President Coolidge hopes, and
what our whole people hope.
What the situation demands IL
some consideration of the practical
question of how things are going
to be done, along with statements
Of things everyone wants TO do.
Eloquencs in stating generslitiss
must not retract our attention
from the practical things. Prog
ress depends upon performances.
not alone upon hope.
As said in my speech Of accept.
ance: This democratic party asks the
American people TO turn back with
IL into the morass Of the debate on the
league Of nations. through q public
referendum. thereby paralynnz the
hope OF constructive action and policy
in this tims OF en existing world
crisis.
The republican platform on foreign
relations outlines policy which. car.
rled out with the common sense, clear
vision, and courage Of Calvin Coolidge
offers the American people q con.
structlve course OF honor. safety. and
progress, for its own and the worlds
good. It offers the only policy which,
AT the present time. means the pos.
slhlllty OF Accomplishment.