Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-03-21
Republican Rivals for
Presidency Discuss IS
sues Over Supposed
Abyss of Beliefs.
South Dakota Law Com
pels Them to Conform
to General Subject of
Americanism.

Pierre. $. D.. March 20-Thc labor
situation and the league of nations were
the leading problems discussed by Major
General Leonard Wood and Senator
Miles Poinde1ter. of Washington-Re-
puolican candidates for president-ia
the opening speeches Of their joint de-
bate here Saturday night.
senator Polnde1ter. who opened the de-
pate declared that IAN abyss existed
between General Wood and himself OF
these two issues. He argued that he
supported rejection of the league of ma
tons covenant and that General Wood
was on record as fayoring ratification
OF the covenant with reservations. SEN
ator Polndexter also declared that his
open shop labor policy was contrary
to 5eenral Woods views.
General Wood declared "he could NOT
permit Senator Foiudextcr to dig an
abyss between them because no abvss
exists. General Wood did not directly
state whether he favored an open shop
or not but he said:
No man should be compelled TO work
and no man should be prevented from
working If he wants to work"
Let People Decide League.
Touching upon his attitude towards the
league of nations. General Wood declar-
ed:
My letter to Senator Borah leaves
America free and untrammeled to ac-
cept the mandate she ought to accept
the mandate of American public opinion.
W hen we turn our people to war it is
going to be done under the mandate OF
the American people and not under the
mandate OF any group OF foreign ma
tons.
Statewide primary for presidential
lndor5ment viii take place Tuesday.
At tn Republican convention held here
last Necenlber, General Wood was in
dorsed for the nomination. Senator
Poindexter failed as an independent can
ildate for party Endorsement. The con-
under the state Law. was obliged
to decide upon paramount issue and it
chose "Americanism" as its slogan.
Both Stress Americanism.
General Woods opening argument in
Guided an outline of the paramount is
sue in South Dakota. Under the Rich
ards primary law. General Wood As re-
,iplent of the majority party indorse-
nent, was obliged TO bring the para
mount issue into the debate.
Justice j. H. Mccoy, Of the South
Dakota supreme court. presided Many
women including Mrs Wood, were in
he audience.
The crying need of the hour is to
tmericanize the American government,
Senator Poindextef said Little attcu.
ion has been paid recently by the chief
Executive To American needs: to land
to land settlement for sol
ilers. to n national system of wagon
'oads. to the wedding OUT Of extrava-
rance and inefficiency in the executive
departments. These things should have
Ittention in preference to Europe Ma
ional independence should b. reasserf-
ID, the union with Europe should be
Wholly rejected and peace SO long de-
aged should be declared at once"
Woods Program.
General Wood said in part:
9Th platform of Americanism j
america first; first through justice and
air dealing; government under the con
titution with each department function
lg within its own limits: no antocracy
wealth; no antocracy Of labor. but
cal democracy for both: no class dom
lation or legislation: an untrammeled
nd fearless judiciary; courts free from
NY taint of political influence or con-
rol'
Continued on Page Two,