The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-16
LEAGUE REVISION
AGAIN STAND Of
SENATOR HARDING
G. o. p. Nominee ReneWS
Declaration in Favor Of Us.
ing All That Is Good Yer.
saiIIeS Covenant.

INDIANAPOLIS, Oct 16.-Assert-
ing that America must do every
thing she can" to prevent future
wars, Senator Harding renewed here
last night his declaration of six weeks
ago that in organizing the sentiment
of the world for peace. he favors TAX
ing all that is good in the Versailles
league OF nations.
Quoting from his league speech of
Aug. rs, the Republican nominee
pointed out that he declared on that
occasion that the league might be
amended or revised" IL it's preserva-
ton were found necessary to the
peace OF Europe.
The senator's speech here, deliver
ed TO n crowd of thousands in Tom
linson's hall. concluded a day of hard
campaigning through the southern
half of Indiana.
Sensible men and women will
wonder" he said "at the assumption
of those who, having no practical
program to offer at home. no con-
structive proposal to take for Amer
lea, should be going the length and
breadth of the land proposing that
the league Of nations as negotiated
by the president should be adopted
A Democratic president, even IL he
were elected. would not be able to
bind the American people nor mort
gage their conscience and their honor
under article 10 for the simple rea-
son that he could not summon suf-
ficient votes in congress to support
his program.
THE reason a Democratic preSi-
dent could do nothing toward putting
into effect our membership in the
league of nations, Just as 1t stands, Is
that, behind the representatives at
Washington the American people
have rejected membership of that
kind. They rejected 1t long ago; they
will continue their refusal to enter
the Paris league as 1t stands,
When elected l will Immediately
summon the best minds of America
to consult and advise as to Amer
ica's relationship to the present as
ISOLATION nations. to notifications Of
It or substitutes for 1t. ] am COM
mitted to n policy of America doing
everything that she can, acting either
independently or with other nations,
to prevent future wars. l place only
two qualifications upon her contribu-
ton. First, her contribution shall
actually be something to prevent war.
Second, America must retain the
right to exercise her own conscience"
Continuing, he said:
II am for cooperation among ma
tons. We are not unmindful of the
new order and we have never failed
humanity nor turned our back on
real progress. The senate and our
party have recognized much good in
u new world fellowship and co-opera-
ton, but we insstently reject all that
menaces Americas Article 10 is a
menace and super government is re-
pugnant to every American ideal. To
be practical we must separate the
wheat from the chaff.
There is no issue drawn between
the presidents league and no league
or association. There never has
been. But we are against the league
which was negotiated and interviewer
with the peace treaty in defiance of
friendly American warning. Few peo-
pie in America are opposed to new
relationship for nations. In the SEN
ate We went a long way toward ac-
cepting the presidents league by
safeguarding the interests and
freedom or America. But the presi-
dent rejected the covenant after our
own republic had been safeguarded.
That did not raise the issue of the
league or no association. but it did
raise the issue between super gov
eminent and free America"
The nominee reiteratd that the ma
ton could not specify plan now be
cause the worlds affairs are in a
state of fluX. and detailed plan
today may become useless tomorrow
and embarrass those who have COM
mitted themselves to carry 1t out"
He also quoted a passage from his
Des Moines speech. saying there
were many conflicting opinions which
must be reConciled before the entire
American people could be united be-
hind any sort Of program.