Evening star., 1932-02-13
Roosevelt ArOuses Friends
And Foes of World League

Nations today is not the League con-
ceived by Woodrow Wilson" The New
York Times independently feels that
Gov Roosevelt "steered his course more
carefully" and adds: Neither could
possibly have mentioned the League
without naming its founder. But how
delicate was the business of reference
can be judged by the results-the re-
sentful newspaper comment, Mr.. Tu-
for nearly decade. But, even though
Democratic conventions dodge or for
swear the League, the late President is
living issue within his party"
ITO dismiss the League" declares the
Democra0, 1T was not necessary to
kick the League. In doing this Gov.
Roosevelt has sent a chill to the heart
of a very large and important section
of American people of all parties and
classes who, through all the mutations
of politics. have never lost their con-
viction that only through world CO.
operation such as the League of Ma
tions attempts can humanity escape the
unending Sufferings and crueltieS in
cident to a world of permanently hos
tile, often warning parts"
X x
Gov Roosevelt didn't need to turn
renegade to the cause" asserts the Fort
Worth Star-Telegram independent
Democrat, commenting on his posi-
tion with the statement: HE might
have told the story of the Leagues
birth and rearing-and he might have
placed some of the blame for its not be-
ing the group conceived by Woodrow
Wilson where it properly belongs
There never has been-and is not now
anything wrong with the ideal
League of Nations. What is wrong is
the man power constituting it, and
that is entirely the fault of the group
which defeated the idea here in the
land of its birth for petty partisanship
and personal animosity reasons"
1T is doubtful if the net result is
to win him many votes" thinks the
Hartford Times independent Demo-
craft, adding that he would far bet
ter have left the League issue to take
care of itself than to attempt such
specious reasoning as he offers" The
Columbus Ohio State Journal (Re-
publican) draws the conclusion that
the greatest leaders of history have
been leaders only because they cast
personal safety and popularity aside
and carried their supporters through to
victory against obstacles The Des
Moines Tribune independent Repub-
lican) calls his stand "a piece of men
tai contortionism in which he executed
f1ip-fop while trying to fool the spec
tators into thinking it was he that
stood still and the world that leaped."
The Leagues record" according to
the San Jose Mercury Herald (Repub-
lican), "flatly contradicts Roosevelt's
statement that 1t has concerned itself
with strictly European national diff
flcultieS. ." The Oakland Tribune IRE
publican), observing that the United
States has been apparently effective in
backing the League in it's commend
able program for international har-
mony." adds: In the meantime the
original sponsors. believing they feel
the public pulse, prompted by political
eXpediency, are deserting the cause of
the great Democrat whom they Loyalty
supported when he was in the zenith
of his power"
1T is much to be feared that Gov.
Roosevelt will be charged with too
much inclination to trim his sails to
every wind that blows" AYERS the
Lynchburg News (Democrat), and the
Chattanooga Times independently
asks: IF the Leagues failure to
measure up to the ideals and expecta-
tions of Woodrow Wilson has been due
to Americas refusal to join, as Gov.
Roosevelt admits it may have been, has
not the obligation of America to become
member been thereby emphasized, if
not increased" This conclusion Is
voiced also by the Charlotte Observer
independent Democrat. The Okla
home City Daily Oklahoman dndepen-
dent) suggests that lit would be one
of the ironies of political history If the
League should win its greatest victory
in the after-hour Of its condemnation
by Gov. Roosevelt"