The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-08
HARDING FLATLY
REJECTS LEAGUE
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treaty with Germany though those with
whom we were at war have already done
So As matter OF fact tins was VIVA.
7 sid: That Just ss soon as Congress
would pass a resol luton declaring a state
Of formal peace In the United States
DO you know whether or not you are
at war? So long as we are at peace.
why not say so?
II can tel you why we have not said
So we have not said so because there are
numerous acts of Congress creating ex-
traordinary war powers that are not
automatically repealed until we have a
formal declaration OF peace, and want
the declaration to restore normally"
Tells story OF Speaker Reed.
This inquiry about recognition of the
state OF peace reminds me OF story Of
Tom Reed In the early days in a con-
tention between the House Of Repre-
sentatives and the Speaker. wherein Tom
Reed put to test the accountability Of
the Speaker to the people OF the country
TO count quorum wnen members would
refuse to answer to their names when
called by the clerk, although present in
the hall of the House OF Representatives
when called. On one occasion after the
clerk had completed the roll call and a
quorum had not answered to their
names. although present, Reed pointed
out several members OF the Democratic
minority here and there, and had the
clerk record them as present Thereupon
Mr.. Springer, / think II was, arose and
objected Reed said in substance: srhe
question arises whether the clerk should
record member as being present when
he Is In fact present but fails or re-
fuses to answer to his name viii the
gentleman please say whether he is
present.
so I make the application on the
formal declaration OF peace We are at
peace. Why not say so and enable
America to resume her trade with the
world as we ought. in which practice
the nations with which we were asso-
ciated at war are already engaged?"
tArplause, and voice. Nov you're
talking")
voice. interruptnR: How about the
bows who are over IN Germany yet"
Senator Harding: ~ want to allude to
that. They haven't any business there
tapplausel and Just as soon as we de-
clare formal peace we can be sure they
VIII be coming home, as they ought to
come. [Applause.l
OblfEa tions in Article X.
Somebody wants me to answer the
question whether | really believe that
council Of foreign Powers might call the
sons OF this republic into war regard
less Of action by the Congress, which is
the constitutional authority" Here q
voice Interrupted, II should say not"
Certainly not" continued Senator Har-
ding, but II we entered the league and
assumed the obligations covenanted at
Paris. and council OF the league were
10 decide that we should contribute our
sons to carry on warfare under the cove
nant. then the Congress would be obliged
In the fplflment Of our compact to send
our sons abroad TO fight or we would be
guilty Of the grossest national dis
honor" Applause and a voice, That's
r,ght."l
That's why I am opposed to Article
X of the covenant. Applause and n
voice, "Good"1 believe in safety
first. and II we will avoid the compact
contemplated In Article X. we can save
American honor and our American boys
at the same time" [Applause.l
A voice: You did not have Article
" when we got into the last war"
Senator Harding: You are quite
right and we did not go into the last
war pursuing some fatuous ideal.
know why we went to war. my country
men. and Senator Cummins. who sit
here, knows why. We did not go t.
war solely for humanity's sake, and we
did not go into the world war to make
the world safe for democracy. ca voice
mo; you bet We didn't")
The ideal is all right. but II we had
gone to war the make the world safe
for democracy or to preserve world civ
ilizetion from the domination OF military
autocracy In Germany we ought to have
gone TO war two years earlier than We
did. (Applause) But he kept us out
of war. daughter and applause)
81 can tell you why we went to war.
and Senator Cummins will bear me out
We were there. we spoke officially.
made the last speech save one In the
Senate before the resolution was adopt
ed. What an Interesting spectacle II
was. with the eyes Of the nation on the
Congress and members OF the Senate
passing uron the action OF the Houss T.