The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-07-24
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

by 1jAA III LAW HENIE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer
Copyright 1920
MARION, O., july 24.-No one who
heard the speech Of Senator Warren G..
Harding accepting the Republican nom
nation for the presidency could have
failed to be impressed with the utter
earnestness and good intention of the
man.
Entirely apart from the skilfully worded
phrases and well balanced sentences, al
most scientifically composed to give the
minimum of offense and the maximum of
comfort to the great body Of voters whose
ballots are wanted next fan, the Repubh-
can nominee revealed personality Of
simple but solemn appeal. He pledged
himself in prayerful tones, not to achieve
the impossible, but to do the best he
could with the immense job of the pres
idency if elected.
The speech satisfied its hearers, who
were mostly Republicans. It did more
than that-it thrilled and enthused them
With all due respect to the length of
time Senator Harding has been in pub
lie life, he was still an unknown guam
tity to the Republican leaders. Every
man is an unknown quantity SO far as
presidential campaigning IS concerned
until he is once nominated The Repub-
leans came here to size up Harding. Was
it wise for him to stay on the front
porch? Was he mixer? Was he capable
of the task entrusted TO him by the Re
publican national convention9'
IL III & 49,.
were enthusiastically in the affirmative.
More than one Republican who had been
urging that Mr.. Harding leave the front
porch and 90 touring. went away be-
licvinr that if the senator would con-
fine his campaign speaking to a dozen or
so prepared speeches either in Marion
or in three or four big cities like New
York. Chicago and Boston. he would
make Just as effective a campaign as could
be made by back -platforming all over the
country.
The speech of acceptance was acclaimed
by the Republicans who heard it as a
masterpiece of exposition, an eloquent
and thoughtful presentation not only of
Republican doctrine but of the pathways
of safe and sound administration in a
troubled era.
It was apparent that the portions Of
the speech referring TO foreign policy
struck deep chords of approval. I'm
auestionablv as time has elapsed since
the first presentation of the covenant of
the league of nations, rs the wearlSome
debate on the Lodge reservations and the
vigorous campaign conducted by Sena-
tors Borah and johnson has implanted
certain impressions Of new and strange
WAYS for America in her foreign policy
under the league. so it was easy for SEN
ator Harding to touch the notes of for
eign policy of McKinley's dav. and gain
thereby a hearty response. This was an
audience that seemed tired of present
dav troubles, domestic and foreign, and
appeared eager, ever so eager, to 90 back
to the old days, if it was only to speak
| of normal times in a fond Renaissance
that might bring realization itself.
1t was backward that Senator Hard
ing looked to get guidance for the fu-
ture, back to party traditions and party
principles And as he denounced by
implicit and sometimes explicit alusion
to the convention Of leadefistir@ in the
presidency which Woodrow Wilson had
introduced, the crowd seemed to grasp
readily the kind Of an administration
which Senator Harding was visualizing.
senator tiarulAg PLAINLY marker out ~
his policy nm unceTemonious end to the
method and manner by which Roosevelt
and Wilson sought to dominate congress
and those about them He promised re-
version tn the calm councils of Harrison,
of Mckinley Of Taft. all four men in
eidentallv having derived that inspira
ton Of the presidency in this midwest
ern atmosnhere.
Perhaps it was the series Of paragraphs
ION labor, perhaps it was the advocacy Of