New-York tribune., 1917-06-09
Harding Assails
Loan Campaign
And War Policy
Declares Public Lacks Con
hdence in the Admin
istration


Washington, June Senator War
rem, G. Harding, of Ohio, one of the
leading members Of the minority and
chairman Of the Republican National
Convention in 1916, said buntly in the
Senate to-day that the Liberty Loan
campaign was "hysterical and un-
seemly."
The apparent public unwillngness
10 subscribe, he said. was due to lack
of confidence in the Administration.
In the interests of unity and practi
cal patriotism. he asserted, Senators
were Withholding information from
the public which might call for in
vestigation and shake public conf
dence in the conduct of the war"
Senator Harding's charge was chal-
lenged by Senator Reed, of Missouri,
who demanded Facts Senator Hard
ing replied that his facts concerned
information relating TO unprepared
ness, and that he had not meant TO
charge anything OF scandalous
nature. 81 have too much regard for
the public mind" he concluded, "to be
drawn further into a statement of
specific detail"
Criticised Loan Campaign
Senator Harding was speaking in
I -,
whip. who had attacked Senator
Harding's Memorial Day speech at
Columbus. Ohio. in which he criti-
cised Secretary McAdoo's bond-selling
methods
81 have no hesitancy in reafIirminc
that statement" insisted Senator
Harding. 81 believe the Liberty Loan
campaign to be hysterical and un-
seemly."
Senator Lewis characterized Sena-
tor uarding's speech as an "unfortu-
nate bit of partisanship in order that
he might strike at the President"
Following Senator Reeds outbreak,
during which he said that Senator
Harding had made an insinuation more
damaging than the fact, Senator Hard
ing ssid:'
81 could not answer better than TO
produce, if tina. were possible. the rec
ord of recent executive session of the
Senate, in which both the Senator from
Illinois lewis and from Missouri
Reed were prominent"
In the executive session the prac-
tees and conduct of the Council OF Ma
tional Defence and Of other Admins
tration officials now prominent IN the
conduct of the war were viciously as
sailed by Democrats, as we'll as Repub-
licans. The President himself, because
of his unwillingness to take anybody
into his confidence. was not spared
Information Withheld
Ill not be drawn into the matter
further" concluded Senator Harding,
but il is not secret to say that con-
ditions we're disclosed creating the
greatest anxiety. I'll not be led by
hecking to make sensational state
ment inclined TO disturb the American
tranquility. But | want 10 make this
solemn statement: In putting aside
partisanship there are those in this
ch; mber who also are putting aside
confidential information that might. if
disclosed, call for Investigations. and
that might shake the confidence Of the
American people in the conduct of the
war"
Before the incident was closed Sen
ator Reed had the last word, rs fol-
lows:
Il want to stamp out here and now
the insinuation that there Is anything
serious or Infamous that would startle
the American people. The Senator tells
us he referred only TO our unprepared-
ness. II that is all. question
whether he can state It more vlvidly
than thousands of others. But he