Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-01
Nails q MisstAtement

9 lNCE Senator Harding plucked up suff-
cient courage to temporarily abandon
his front-porch plan OF campaigning, due
TO the fact that only the most enthusiastic
OF his partisan followers went there to be
inspired by his yapid utterances, he has
made an excursion into two or three near
By States. In the speeches he has delivered
on this tour, he has INDUCED in reckless
statements regarding the debt situation in
this country, in which he made the direct
assertion that under the present admins
tration the nations public debt is increas-
ing instead of decreasing. coupled with
other reckless statements designed to
create the impression Of Democratic inca
pacity and mismanagement of the countrys
financial system.
Secretary OF the Treasury Houston has
made prompt reply to these criticisms of
the Treasury plan OF war and postwar
financing, and 10 the false deductions based
thereon. Tho Secretary OF the Treasury
very pointedly states in his reply to these
criticisms that the Republican nominee is
either in complete ignorance" OF the stu
alton; that he knows little OF the sub
ject himself" and that his advisers an
peared mot TO have taken the trouble to
ascertain the facts or are willing to mis-
represent them for partisan purposes" And
then he proceeds TO give out the figures
showing reduction OF the public debt
amounting TO S325,91G,00O since June 80
this year.
That Senator Harding is ignorant on The
subject Of finance readily may be believed,
not only from his general reputation for
aenscncss OF thought i'll connection with
public questions generally, but from his Of
fciai record as we'll, for in the discussion
OF no measure OF congressional legislation
has he ever been known to interpose with
suggestions OF an enlightening character
throughout his career member of the
legislative branch of the government he has
achieved no higher reputation than that of
dummy in discussion, with his influence
in the enactment OF laws restricted to cast
ing Me, 100 vote, at the direction OF
party leaders like Lodge and Penrose.
AS TO the alternative suggestion OF
Secretary Houston, that Iarding's advisers
are willing TO misrepresent the facts TO him
ior partisan purposes, that undoubtedly is
the source and motive for the Senator's un-
founded statements The public Is not. as
yet. prepared to believe that the Repub
lican nominee would deliberately and know
ingly tri6c with the truth in respect to a
situation OF which the true facts in rela
ton thereto can be produced from the
record TO refute misleading statements: but
| ii will not 80 to that extent in throwing
| tho mantle OF charity over the devious
ways and deviish Vaccinations of the par-
tisan advisers with which the senatorial
oigarchy that secured his nomination
Keeps him surrounded at all times These
act upon the principle that a lie travels so
last That the truth can scarcely overtake
IL before the conclusion of campaign.
Hence the deceptious and disreputable
campaign the Republicans have deliberately
| 1haugurated and are actively conducting
| The country owes its thanks to SECRETARY
Houston for his promptness in overtakinr
| this particular brand OF campaign falsebood
and decisively mailing it.