Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30
WORLD COURT7LEADING ISSUE
IN ILLINOIS SENATE PRIMARY
Deneen and Mrs. Mccormick
in the Last Week of
Contest.
Background Shows Mckinley
Martyr to Much Battered
Cause.
BY WILLIAM HARD.

Senator Charles 3. Deneen ana MIS-.
Ruth Hanna Mccormick seem to be
having considerable carnival in Illinois
in the course Of conducting this years
most spectacular and nationally noted
primary contest. They are now in the
last week of 1t, and their methods Of
managing and promoting their respec-
tive aspirations to a seat in the United
States Senate shed some light on poll
tics as an American major pastime.
The one great impersonal issue at
stake between the two candidates seems
to be the permanent court Of interna-
tional justice at The Hague In the
Netherlands. On this issue Mrs. Nc
Cormick has perhaps certain advan-
tage. The State of Illinois is probably
anti-league and anti-court. 1t was the
only State in the Union during the
League of Nations senatorial debate In
1919 and 1920 that had both of its
Senators talking and voting on the tr-
reconcilably anti-league side. One OF
those Senators was Mrs. McCormicks
late husband, Medill Mccormick, and
the other was Lawrence Y. Sherman,
who used to boast that he was one OF
the most valuable legislators in America
because he never in the course OF
long legislative life had invented any
legislative novelties whatsoever but on
the other hand had earnestly helped to
kill of more legislative novelties than
any other American alive.
Mckinley Favored Court
When MT. Sherman was succeeded in
the Senate from Illinois by the late Will
liam Brown Mckinley, Mr.. Mckinley
was conscientiously pro-court and &C
rificed his political career to conscience
and conviction. At the very moment
when he voted for the court in the
Senate, he turned to a colleague on the
floor and said "This signs my political
death warrant" 1t did. Mr.. Mckinley
was beaten for denomination by MT.
Frank Smith, whose only issue of any
importance was an opposition to the
court.
Today in certain quarters in Illinois
the recoil from the court as an alleged
organ of the League seems to be just
as alarmed and indignant as 1t ever
was. Some of the toughest and most
realistic sections of the Republican
party in Chicago, in the midst Of their
normal concentrated pursuit of political
pay rolls and political contracts, have
yet one mighty lofty principle which
raises them to the heights Of impersonal
| patriotism. They are against the League
and the court. They thereupon can
and do support Mrs. Mccormick against
1 IL
and Stripes and of the independence Of
| the United States, which gives them a
great warming glow of good citizenship.
One important detection in Illinois
| from the anti-court ranks must, how
ever be noticed. 8. o. Levinson
Of Chicago, inventor Of the outlawry OF
war, used to be against the court, but
now, In consequence Of certain changes
| in its constitution which he believes
/ that he secured from the League of
Nations last year, he is for it. To
counter him. the Mccormick forces are
! importing into Illinois the eminent
Philadelphia lawyer and ex-United
States Senator, Mr.. George Wharton
Pepper, who win meet Mr.. Levinson in
high debate before large audience and
also before a radio broadcast micro
phone for the purpose of attempting to
prove that Mr.. LevinSon was right the
| first time and is wrong now.
Interest of Americans.
All this vivid interest taken in a
question of foreign policy In State
in the middle q the Mississippi Valley
is an Illuminating commentary on the
foreign contention that Americans are
-i1afanaatad IN foraian Affairs This