The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-20
SPEECH OF TAFT
KILLS DEMOCRAT
HOPES Of SUPPORT
Former President Declares
Harding's Election Will
Mean U. S. Entry Into the
LEAGUE of Nations.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent Of The News
Scimitar.)

campaign speech in this campaign
gave to his audience here a lengthy
explanation why he has not Joined
with other pro-league of nations Re-
publicans in supporting Gov. Cox
and why he confidently believes the
election Of Senator Harding will
mean Americas entrance into the
present league of nations.
Here is an excerpt from a steno
graphic copy of the address:
Mr.. Harding's attitude upon the
league has been this: That in an
earnest desire to help other nations
he was willing to vote for the league
with Republican reservations and he
did so twice. In anticipation of ex-
ecutive responsibility, however, and
initiative, he does not wish to sub
NIT the Wilson league to the senate
He prefers to negotiate with the
leading powers now in the league 10
revise and amend the league by an
agreement with those powers before
submitting the matter to the senate.
In his speech of Aug. % and in his
speeches at Indianapolis and Green
castle, Ind, this last week he has
made it clear that this country
should help in an association to
avoid war and that he is willing to
bring about modified or revised
league, avoiding those features Of
the Wilson league to which he has
made objection. His insistence is that
the league should center around a
court of justice and Mr. Roots inter-
national court of justice furnishes
basis for his proposal.
Unfair Expressions"
Expressions that Mr. Harding
has 'scrapped the league or has re-
pudiated it are grossly unfair eX-
pressions. He has vigorously OPP
posed article 10 and the Monroe
Doctrine provision, but he has not
repudiated it's other provisions and
purposes. All inference that he is
opposed to any league or is opposed
to the present league, when these
features which he deems to be OBJ
jeCtionahle are removed. and when
other features are added that he
deems to be necessary, does him in
justice. a 4-s
Il wish to be real Democrat in
spirit. wish to play the game of
government as it's rules are con-
tanned IN the constitution of the
United States. l feel, therefort, that
though l favored the Wilson league
and hoped the treaty would be rati-
fled and favored article 10, and hoped
that it might escape elimination.
when I found that it could not be
ratified, urged as strongly as l
could the acceptance of the reserva-
tons offered by the Republicans in
November, 1919, and in February
1920. / felt that President Wilson
1. IL, hi Af
the severest criticism in not being
willing to accept a compromise
which the senate had a right to offer
, him. BY insisting on article 10 he
has destroyed the league, and Mr..
Cox proposes to do the same thing.
1.-THE only possible hope of making
progress toward league of nations
to secure peace is by the election of
Mr.. Harding. The present election
is not a referendum, the result of
which will determine whether the
American people are in favor of Mr..
Wilson'S league or against it.
Issue of the Campaign.
1.-THE issue of this campaign is
whether we shall approve the Will
son administration. From my OBJ
Servation, and I have had great OPP
portunity in every part of the coun-
try, believe that the majority of the
American people were in favor OF
Mr.. Wilson's accepting the reserva-
tions and entering the league. l be-
lieve further that a majority of the
American people are against article
10, and think this, although / ia =
vored article 10 and would have
been glad to see 1t ratified. The
question Is, what can be done under
the rules of the game: that is. under
constitutional provisions, to bring
the United States into an arrange
ment with other nations to prevent
wars. 1t seems to me clear that in
the existing situation Mr.. Harding
election is the only means of Sc
curing this"
were intensely interesting in that
thew denounced Mr.. Wilson's attitude
toward counselors even during the
war. Mr.. Taft said public opinion
alone forced the president to select
able men to make America effective
in its war organization.
Wilson Is the Issue"
1.-THE issue" said Mr.. Taft, (which
the American people are going to
vote upon in this election, no mat
ter what Mr.. Cox wishes, Mr. Will
son wishes, or Mr.. Harding wishes, is
whether they approve the admins
tration of Mr.. Wilson. Mr.. Wilson
is a man of exceptional ability of
still more exceptional personality,
and he has stamped that personality
upon his administration so COM
pletely that he is the administration.
1t is impossible, therefore to talk in
this campaign without talking of Mr.
Wilson. He loves the exercise OF
power and Is morbidly sensitive to
any attempt, real or fancied, by any
one. whether by congressman, sena
tor or prominent Democrat, to inter-
fere with his control
The former president said that Mr.
Wilson's jealousy for power and re-
fusal to delegate it could alone ex-
plain the dismissal of Secretary OF
state Lansing,
81 did not object" added Mr.. Taft,
'to his going over to Europe. In
deed, thought it would educate him
in the affairs of the world, but in
sofar as it minimized the necessity
of appointing able men on the conf
mission to assist him, it had bad re-
suits"
Mr.. TAFT paid his respects to Gov,
Cox, saying he had considerable Of
fetal experience as governor of Ohio
and has shown himself shrewd and
active politician, who has saved him.
self from defeat because of his af-
filiAtion with the liquor groups in
politics"
Condemning Gov. Cox for refusing
THE FAMOUS