Evening star., 1932-02-05
The Leagues Defender.

The League of Nations has de-
fender, Joseph p. Tumulty, secretary
To the late President Woodrow Wilson.
While two of the men most prominently
mentioned for the Democratic presi-
dental nomination this year, Gov,
Franklin D. Roosevelt OF New York and
Newton D. Baker, Secretary OF War In
the Wilson administration, have SHE'D
away from the League In recent STATE
ments, Mr.. Tumulty demands a leader
ship Of the Democratic party made OF
finer stuff; leadership that will tight
for the ideals Of Woodrow wilson as
exemplifed in the formation OF the
League Of Nations 1t may be said
that Mr.. Tumulty is not himself can
didate for office, and that therefore MS
cSpousal of the League cause TO-DAY Is
negligible since 1t does not raise the
issue Of American adherence to the
League in the coming national cam
paign. In justice to Mr. Tumulty'
however, 1t may be said that whether
he were a candidate for office or not
he would continue to stand for What
he believes to be the proper, the right
course for this country to take.
Mr.. Tumulty's loyalty to woodrow
Wilson and to the League cause VIII
strike an echoing chord in the hearts
OF many Democrats who stood with MT.
Wilson on the League issue. And be-
cause he is loyal. because he stays
put" he will have the admiration even
of those who oppose the League. But II
the Democrats undertake to follow
pro-League leader in the presidential
election, in the present state OF sentl-
ment in the United States. they Will
have assumed an added burden. 1t is
a burden which practically all OF the
leaders OF the party have decided the
Democratic cause should not be COM
PEELED to carry in 1882.
Just which one OF the leading figures
in the Democratic party does Mr.. Tum-
ulty propose for a leader, carrying the
standard of the League? In 1928 Alfred
E. Smith made no campaign as pro-
Lacquer. The League issue was not men
toned in that contest. Mr.. Baker. who
has been regarded as the Leagues most
ardent champion in this country since
the death Of Woodrow Wilson, has de-
clared that while he believes the United
States some day should become
member of the League. the League issue
should not be raised in the coming
campaign He would not have the
Democratic party, therefore. put pro-
League plank in its national platform
Former Gov. Cox of Ohio, the 1920
standard bearer of the Democracy, went
down to q crushing defeat fghtlng
valiantly for the cause of American ad-
herence to the League of Nations. He
has been mentioned Of late as a possible
compromise candidate in the Demo-
cratic national convention next June,
should the leading candidates in the
race not be able to make the grade. But
II Mr.. Cox should permit it to be known
that he would run as pro-Leaguer,
would he ever get the nomination? The
chances are that If Mr.. Cox becomes a
serious contender for the nomination he
will have to agree at least not to raise
the issue Of the League in the cam
paign. And even under such a promise
he might find it difficult to reply to
pointed questions of the Republicans on
the subject Of the League. 1t does not
appear in the cards, however, that the
Democratic party is to 60 to the front
this year in advocacy of the entry of
the United States into the League of
Nations.