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The Commoner
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VOL. 20,0. 11
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Harding Pledges
World
A Marlon, 0.,' dispatch, . "dated Not. 4, says:
Making his first speech as president elect, War
rsn Q. Harding declared hero tonight at an elec
tion celebration by the "homo folks" and crowds
from other Ohio cities that the Versailles league
of nations was "now deceased' lie added,
however, vtfiat the now administration intended
to boo that the nation played Its part in a new
international association.
"X am going down to Washington asa booster
for the United States of America," Mr., Harding
sad, spoaking from the front porch, adding that
he hatl come, through tho light "without an
apology or a regret He declared that he would
rather not have tho presidency than to win. it
"by speaking ill or uttering a Ho."
So large wero tho crowds that people filled
the streets for a block in all directions front tho
front porch and only a few persons could hear
the speeoh.
In a parade past tho Harding residence there
were many special features, one man leading a
donkey on whose Bldos was painted "Jlmmie
didn't treat me right," while -another group Car
ried an effigy silhouetted against ft red Are
background and labeled "The League of Na
tions." "X didn't see as much sorrow in your faces as
I had apprehended," Mr". Harding said to the
crowd thon. "It's not that you or I question
the desire of Amorica to" play its part; it's jnot
that we question the high Ideals of those who
were responsible for the Versailles covenant.
"Sfou just did not want a surrender of the United
tates of Amorica; you wanted America to go in
under American ideals. That's why you didn't
care for the league whicli i$ now deceased.
"America li playing a great part now. Amer
ica is helillng the heart of tho old world tonight
as Is no other nation. But there is more to do.
There fa a new world relationship, and- when
the next administration comes into power we're
going to play our part.
"We're going to ask for nations associated to
gether in just'hut it shall be an association
which surrenders othing of American freedom.
"One can't be quite happy or normal when
he contemplates tho obstacles that are quite as
heavy as falls upon any human being under the
shining sun. I told you when J came back
hero from the convention that It I had to be a
superman, I snould be reluctant to accept the
task. But America is nqt expecting the super
!
I have told tho people that we are going to
Mare in Amorica once more government by the
eonstitution, government by the peoplo through
their t chosen representatives The thing that
counts is" the will of. the people, not the will of
the chief executive. , -
"Those of you who know me, best know, may
be, that I have one great attribute which will
fall 4nto the situation. All along, all xny life,
I have preached' conference, counsel, exchange
of opinion, and the" meeting of many minds.
"It has been said I am reactionary and ultra
conservative. Let me remind you that the great
thing tor America ia the slowing up of the ex
treme radical and the speeding up ofthe con
servative, so that we can better come together.
"These are serious times. The civilization of
the world was turned into a fluid state. Perma
nent crystallization has not yet come. It is for
America to give to the world a steadying and
stabilizing influence.
"I am going into office knowing that the heart
6 America Is right. In the spirit of compromise,
in the desire for understanding, and in the
mutuality of interest, America will go on and
give of its service for the good of humanity
and tho safety, of the world.
"I want a part in that. I want your wishes,
your confidence, aye, I want your prayers, It Is
a serious and solemn task, and 'when I am done
I want' to think that I cam com back' and be
one of you again, to have your confidence and
respect. By your action last Tuesday you have
earned my gratitude.
"Happy? Of course I'm happy I'm proud
that my own state stood, by me so spendidlyjn a
contest whare Its loyality counted for so. much.
New Efforts for
Peace
I'm proud of what old Now York did - for tho
national ticket and Jim Wadsworth and Nathan
Miller. I'm happy for my friends, George Moses
in New Hampshlro and Fmk Brandegee in Con- t
necticut, Lonroot in Wisconsin and Spencer ,in
Missouri. I'm happy over Tennessee and the
wonderful vote in Oklahoma. I'm thrilled at the
senate-and houso results, thrilled to know that
there will be at the back of-my administration
indestructible Republican majorities In congress.
"But," O my friends, happy and proud as
I am, I am bending my mind upon the future
and its responsibilities, tho, things that must be
done for America first, the duties that must be
attempted for civilization. . These are sobering,
steadying thoughts. I want so tp be fair, fair
to all the world, and, God helping me, I ahall
be."
The crowds called for Mrs. Harding and
cheered her as she stood beside her husband. She
was happy. But outside of the Harding family
tho most delighted person present was "Uncle
Charlie" Patton, civil was veteran and Harding's'
neighbor, who is said to have cast his first vote
for Lincoln, while his. most recent vote was for '
Harding. "
The day after Harding was nominated "Uncle
Charlie" had bought $100 worth of "red fire."
Thursday morning he lugged it from his cellar
and spent'lhe day pouring it into little envelopes,
When dark came "Uncle- Charlie" appeared in
the yard and began pouring his red" fire on the
ground in little piles and lighting It.
ROOT THINKS PEACE PACT MUST STAND
Following Is staff correspondence by David
Lawrence in the Pittsburg Leader from Wash
ington under date of Nov. 8:
"Elihu Root has advised Senator Harding
that 'a new deal from the -beginning by aband
oning the peace treaty of Versailles is impos
sible and that to attempt It would bring chaos
and an entire loss pf the results of the war
and general disaster involving the United
States
"This advice, it now can bo disclosed, was
given by cablegram from London by Mr, Root
.during the latter part of August andwas an
effort to keep Senator Harding from adopting
the extreme position of the treaty and league
which Senator Johnson was advocating.
"The cablegram was dent partly as a result of
an inquiry by Will Hays, chairman of the Re
publican national committee, as to whether the
Hague court could not be so defiped as to in
clude the work supposed to bo the object of tho
league of nations. Also there is an interesting
story of what happened at Marion when the
cable from Mr. Root arrived. First of all, this
correspondent presents exclusively today in
The Leader the ideas of Mr. Root as cabled to
a -man who was stopping in Marion during the
latter part of August and who showed the cable
gram to Senator Harding. Here is what Mr.
Root cabled:
" 'Declaration on which Hays asks an opinion
cannot be defined. The Hague court cannot
be made to cover- anything but justifiable ques
tions. Matters of state policy must be- dealt with
by conference of powers. See explanation in
my letter to Hays qf March, 1919. It io very
unwise to declare the league dead - , , It
would not be true. The league has hardly be
gan to function because the terms of peace have
'not yet been enforced by the Victorious nations,
Polish questions for example are properly bol
lng handled by the foreign offices without any
reference Iq tho league. They are" not the
league's business.
" 'In my opinion a new deal here from the be
ginning by abandoning Versailles freaty is im
possible. To attempt it would bring chaos and
an entire los3 of results of the war and general
disaster involving the United States. The only
possible course is to keep the treaty, modifying
it to meet the requirements of the senate res
ervations and the Chicago platform and prob
ably in some other respects.
" 'Tito precise way in which somo modifica
tions can be best made must be determined at
the time in conference with the other nartie'a
AN ASSOCIATION OF NATIONS
. ,Dalia, Texas, Nor. 13th, 120. Hon. W. J.
Bryan, Lincoln, Nebr. Sir: Senator Harding has
made the statement that he is expecting to call
some of the principal men of the country, in
cluding also women, to advise as to the nature of
tho proposed Association of Nations which he
favors. He will most likely call you- to Marion
for your opinion of the formation of an asso
ciation. You probably take the position that tho pro
posed league, of nations will never become the
compact wnicn is to inciuao4;ue United. States,
because of the fact that there is much sentiment
against it. I was opposed to the league for cer
tain reasons, mong those reasons was that
he league takes in many nations not having
governments based upon tho same "principles as
that of tho nations of the "western world, and
those backward nations also promote and tol
erate practices which ate little less than slavery.
Why is It not possible to now form somo sort
of- an association for the promotion of world
peace? . There is such an association whiefi ex
President Taft has been working with; but it
wotfld seem that it has outgrown its usefulness.
But 'there will bo no use to promote any sort of
an association to promote world peace, except
there is somo common principle which we ex
pect to promote.
It seems to mo that in the promotion of the
league the makers began on the wrong side. Too
. many nations were' taken . regardless of the
basic, principles of tho respective governments
of those nations.
There is a wonderful opportunity, just at this
time, to spread tfie principle of representative
government throughout the world by the Asso
ciation of Nations, if wo are wise enough to take
the opportunity as it is now offered.
We may now see that Britain is not willing,
under, the premiership of .Lloyd George, to enter
the Association of Nations, and break down the
league. Evidently we might deal much easier
with France than with .England, although the
people of England will support the "principles
, which France advances. r , - "
The government of the United States io based
upon four general principles. First, the prin
ciples of justice as proclaimed by 'Jehovah', at
Mount Sinai. Second, representative legislative
bodies; Third, the social equality of women and
men, and recently, the political' equality of. men
arid womei, and fourth, the separation of
church and state.
. Upon these principles a league, might be
formed very easily with France, and the com
pact establishing the league or association would
contain these general principles. It would be
tho policy of the association to accept other na
tions into the association when those nations
would comply with a written constitution em
bodying these four principles of government.
We could readily depend on both France and
Italy joining the association under these prin
ciples, and Britain would, join by a popular :vote,
Without a doubt. Let Lloyd George fight it out
with his people. Then Belgium would join, in
cluding" Sweden and Denmark and several of tho
western nations. This policy would permit all
nations to join the association, but they would
necessarily establish a government under a
written constitution embodying the principles
mentioned. To establish woman suffrage In all
governments would give tte Association of Na
tions a wonderful lead to say nothing of tho
subject .of peace. No doubt, President Wilson
had that in view in promoting the league of na
tions, as well as the subject of peace. I am hot
looking for'a job, but this-idea might bo greatly
elaborated in The Commoner and the, new "or
ganization might oe promoted from that publi
cation. ' Tours truly, - , . ,
WALTER. tfOHNSOtf,
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PERTINENT "IPS"
If Brother Jenkins of tho Kansas city Post
thinks he can gain anything for himself, the
Post or tho Democratic party, by slu'rjring and
ridiculing W. J. Bryan, he will find himself
very much mistaken. Without doubt Bryan has
the .largest personal following of any man in
the world and retains the respect and confidence
of his most bitter opponents. If tho Democratic
convention at San Francisco had followed his
advice, perhaps there wouloTnot bo so many of
us now trying to find out "who struck Billy. Pat
terson" and wondering just how it was done.
Clay, Centeiv Kansas, Economist. " i '
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