The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-10-01
Harding Condemns "Without
Qualification" Failure to
Carry Out Prohibition.
TELLS OF WELFARE POLICY
Declares Law Enforcement an
Executive Responsibility.
Warns of Centralized
Authority.


OF prohibition was condemned without
qualification" today by Senator Hard.
ing In front porch speech outlining a
policy OF organized federal effort for
me promotion OF social justice and
Addressing n gathering OF women, the
republican nominee proposed establish
mont OF department Of public wei
laiS IN the national government. and
added that In his opinion law enforce
ineht was one OF the important requi-
sites OF social progress
Tho enforcement OF the law is an
executive responsibility" he continued,
and must he undertaken by the ex-
ochtlve without regard for his personal
approval or dsapprovaI OF the law
winch II has been the peoples win TO
enact We must have throughout tthe
land respect for law w-abiding prin-
clplcs. We must all condemn without
qualifications the failure OF enforce
mtnt Of prohibition, Just as we must
all condemn the failure Of established
authority 20 prevent outrages OF vio-
lence. such as lynching,"
Tho senator assorted that he regarded
enforcement OF law as "a fundamental
principle OF the American conscience"
but ho did not discuss tho prohibition
law nj length. In another part OF his
speech tho senator warned against as
sumption Of too much authority by the
federal government In welfare efforts
or In other activities. declaring there
was grave danger at hand when CEN
troli2od expression begins to take from
local, communities all the burdens OF
socal conscience"
Give Women important Share.
Skotchlng his conception of the fed
oral department. he said II might we'll
ho formed In part by combining the
various governmental bureaus now
dealing with tho different aspects ~
social welfare lie suggested that
women should have an important part
IN the work Of the department. anC
mentioned maternity care. child well
fare, public health human labor regn-
mtions and stability OF employment as
questions Involved In social hettermeut.
"Tht protection Of the motherhood Of
America cannot he Accomplished" he
said until the state and the nation
have enacted and hy their example.
have enforced customs. which protect
womauhood itself I know full well
that thcrc are women who insist that
women shall he treated upon the same
haWs that men are treated. They
would have right TO take this post
tion in their own behalf. but | insHt
that oil true Americans must irast,
that no woman sneaks for herself alone,
Sho n tho poascssor of our future, and
though she becomes engaged In the
tusks and services OF civilization, We
must preserve 10 hor tho right Of
wholesome maternity,
Twelve million women In the United
states 10 per cont. Of them between
u and 20 years OF age. arc Engaged
In paid occupations, or professions.
Such an army of potential maternity
domands fram America demand careful
and adequate protection in the condi-
tlpns which surround their iaborH.
Justice and American standards De.
nanh that women who are employed
should he paid n living wage.
zone OF tho important organizations
under a department OF public welfare
might well bc the childrens bureau
which now exists, but whose work al
rcndy proved SO inadequate. must be
extended,
Next 10 maternity and childhood. l
believe that our attention must he
conferred upon our national health. We
must attack nrs,, low standard of
health among children: secondly, the
invasion Of diseases which attend a
low standard ~ morals and. thirdly,
the Invasion OF epidemic and the neg
lcct Of tho chronic diseases of ma
turlty."
"sociai Justice Day."
1t was social justice day about
tho Harding front porch today and
tho senator. delivered a lengthy speech
dealing with varied topic IN which
women are particularly interested.
Many well known women were In
Tho senator's audlence Among them
wero Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longworth
and Mrs, Douglas Robinson. hts sister:
Mrs Mary Roberts Rinchart Mrs Har.
riot Taylor Upton. of Ohlo Mrs. John
Glover South. of Kentucky and Mrs,
Richard Edwards Of Indiana.
"Whcn making the proposal for
department of public welfare I am surs
that I have made q stop In advance of
any platform. said Senator Harding.
There can be no more efficient way
Of advancing Humanitarian progress
than by adapting tho machinery Of
our federal government TO ths purposes
We desire 10 attain Our primary coa-
Ederation must he the machinery OF
administration and when tho tins
comes for the reorganization ot our
administrative government In Wash-
ingtou We must all stand together for
tho creation Of a department. OF public
welfare"
Sonator Harding said he recognized
that "he might be called an ex-
trcmist In this suggestion Il believe "
hn continued. that one Of the prinei-
pal functions of tho department. Of pub.
Ito welfare will be 10 enlIghten and
yducHt~s local action 50 that We may
hnvc thruughout the states an lncreas.
Ing s"nse ~ Obligation to meet na-
uonnl standard - social Justice.
Message TO Women.
Senator Harding closed hts message
to the women hy calling At, ntion TO
what he considered =ome ~ the dan
gers ~ the league NJ nations.
'l know ne concluded that tho
mothers nul wivys NJ America do not
v'sh tn rva their sons and husbands
for au,rINro ~ the call ~ an extra
rorri'nruuu body Ike that Of the
council ~ iNe Paris league
''rhr protection ~ American mother
hno' cannot boz ACCOMPLISHED until the
H'rfr n01 'hr nation have enacted and
enforced customs which protect worn-