New-York tribune., 1920-10-09
10000 i'm Kansas Citv.
Mo-, Hear Him Call Ar.
ticle X Most Dangerous
Proposition in Treaty
Leaders Claim the
State by $4,000
st. Joseph Crowd Leaps to
Feet Cheering His Re-
fusal to Enter League
From q staff CorresDondcnt


KANSAS CITY, Mo, Oct. 8.-Answor.
ing President Wilson's White House
campaign statement, issued last Sun
day. Senator Warren G. Harding. in a
speech in this city tonight. ridiculed
as a frequently exposed fallacy the ar
gument that Article X of the Leaeue
OF Nations covenant does not usurn
the war-making powers Of Congress.
The nominee addressed an audience
OF 10000 that packed Convention Hall
where, on previous occasions, Presi
dent Wilson and Governor Cox have
spoken in defense of the Versailles
treaty Here, in the home city of Sem
ator James A. Reed, the leading Demo
cratic opponent of the league project
Senator Harding declared that if the
United States should subscribe to the
covenant with Article x in it Amer
lcan boys conceivably might have to
defend Japan's possession of Shantung
Senator Harding cited the case of
Poland to prove his point that only by
breach of faith could signatories to
the Versailles covenant fail to resist
with arms threat against the terri
torial integrity of member of the
league. He declared if we were party
TO the league he would hate to see
America fail as England failed to fur
nlsh aid to Poland
Points Out Fallacy
"1n the Presidents statement" said
Senator Harding, "the people are told
that the election is to be genuine ma
tlonal referendum and they are to in
struct their own government what thew
wish done. SO far as the league is con-
cerned, he says the question which
their vote will answer is: Do they wish
the Treaty of Versailles ratified, and
do they (I quote his exact Words lin
particular approve of the League of
Nations as organized and empowered
in that treaty. Those who oppose the
treaty in its present form-and there
are quite a number of respectable and
intelligent people who do oppose it
are charged with gross ignorance and
impudent audacity. He tells the peo-
pie that there is nothing in the cove
nant which in the least interferes with,
or impairs, TIE right of Congress to
declare war, or not to declare war, ac-
cording to it's own independent judg-
ment as the Constitution provides.
"The fallacy of this position has been
exposed again and again. Article X,
in words of the utmost precision, binds
us to an obligation which, under GER
tain easily foresecable circumstances
will require the use Of armed forces" "
1T is true that the Constitution in
vests Congress with the sole power
to declare war" the Senator continued,
"but if war shall become necessary in
order to fulfill this or any other
treaty provision, Congress must either
declare war or repudiate the obliga-
ton. This obligation assumed by the
signatories to the covenant is absolute
and unqualified. Whenever certain
specified circumstances arise, no mat
ter how much we might regret it. we
would have to keep our promise or
sneak out of it. Let 10 one be de
ceived- the choice would be between
two things. war or dishonor.
"Article X is not only the most dan
gerous provision in the covenant but,
in its sinister possibilities, it is the
most dangerous proposition ever pre-
sented to the American people
"America" Drowned in Cheers
The walls and floor OF Convention
Hall were completely hidden by the
great throng that had been waiting
there for two hours when Senator
Harding appeared at o'clock. The
crowd was standing, singing Amer
ca," when the features of the Ohloan
were framed in 4 doorway in the north
wall of the hail. At once the words
of the song were drowned in roar
of cheers. Thousands of tiny Ameri-
car flags were waved.
Senator and Mrs. Harding waved
their hands to the crowd. The demon
stration continued for about ten min
utes, coming to climax with the
singing of "The Star-Spangled Ban
ner."
Two old men approached Senator
Harding on the platform bearing q
large silk flag and took their stand
beside him so that the folds of the
fac fell about his shoulders.
After Mrs. Harding, wearing huge
bunch of orchids and carrying another
bouquet of yellow rosebuds in her
hand, had been introduced as the next
lady of the White House, Senator
chairman as "Senator Warren, of
Ohio Smiling at this exhibition of
EN- barrassment Senator Harding began:
Il am convinced that you love Amer
ica more than you love the league"
The cheering began afresh, many
women giving staccato limitations of
Indian warwhoops by patting the palms
of their hands against their mouths a S
they yelled.
You tell'em, Uncle Warren shouted
a coatless man perched up near the
caves.
Hit em again." shouted another
when the Senator. having finished his
prepared address, paused for second.
NO" replied Senator Harding, eve
don't want to hit 'em again. We merely
want to be sane again"
Approval of bonus plan for World
Continued on page thrce>