Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-17
Former Secretary of State
Called Into Consultation at
Marion Conference.
VIEWS EXPECTED TO AID
IN FRAMING NEW LEAGUE
James G. Darden and James
Speyer on Appointment List to
Discuss Economics.
BY the Associa ted Press.

ny tHe aSsOciateu fless
MARION, Ohio. December 17.-Wil-
liam Jennings Bryan. former Secre-
tary of State under President Wilson
and for many years an earnest advo-
cate of world peace, was called into
consultation today by President-elect
Harding regarding the plan for an as
Sociation of nations.
The first former official of the demo-
cratic administration to be summoned
to the republican President-elect's
council table here, Mr.. Bryan brought
a fund of special knowledge by virtue
of his experience in negotiating more
than a score of arbitration treaties
while he was head of the Department
of State. 1t was understood that
these treaties constituted one of the
principal subjects of Mr.. Hardings in
QuirieS.
Elihu Root, suggested that arbitration
treaties throughout the world might
be amended and that all justiciable
questions between nations would be
referred to the new league of ma
tions court rather than to temporary
arbitration boards. On the possibility
of making such amendments in the
American treaties. Mr.. Bryan was in
position to give first-haud informa-
tion.
Treaties Seen AZ Basis.
The Bryan treaties also have been
discussed many times as furnishing
in themselves a basis for reaching a
world agreement in the interest of
peace.
A proposal that nations bind them
selves not to go to war except by
vote of the people has been another
of Mr.. Bryan's suggestions as q basis
for world league and il is known
N II Io inow hoo
his conferences here. 1t is assumed
that to discuss the practical working
OF such an agreement was one of the
purposes of today's conference.
The former Secretary was warm
advocate of the Versailles league, but
after unreserved ratification failed he
entered the fight actively to secure
democratic acceptance Of the repub-
Hcan reservations 1t was not re-
yealed today what opinion he ex-
ticabiiity of American acceptance Of
the covenant.
OtAefs Have -ApD0fM1N nn14aSze Assz
Arriving here late - the forenoon,
Mr.. Bryan had most Of the remainder
of the day set aside for him ON Mr..
Harding's appointment schedule. To-
night the two will speak from the
same platform at Presbyterian
Church rally here.
Others on Mr.. Harding's appointment
list today included James @. sDardem OF
New York, a close personal friend and
leading figure in the Harding pre-
convention campaign, and James Spcyer.
the New York banker.
II was understood that the President
elect asked both of them to come here
TO discuss economic conditions and
means for stebilizing finances.
Vice President elect Coolidge has been
formally invited by President-elect
Harding to sit In the cabinet consulta-
tons and take an active part in shaping
the policies OF the coming administra-
ton.
Gov. Coolidge indicated that he would
Accepe gladly such responsibilities as his
tsnief might suggest, and after the con-
ference both expressed warmest Eratifi-
cation over the results Of their talk.
The Vice President-elect declared thai
ne was particularly pleased with the
proeress made in the conferences here
and predicted that Mr. Harding vou6
vofk out an agreement behind which
the American people could stand united
II was not revealed what position Mr
Coohdge took toward Preservation Of
the framework OF the Versailles league
IN the building Of a new world Deace
structure, nor what new suggestions he
contributed to the advice gathered bv
the President-elect in his series Of con.
1E4onCea,