Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-10-24
HARDING TAKES UP DEFENSE SENATOR
 SPENCER AT LAST
G. o. P. Nominee Again Con- tradictS Statements of
 Johnson WOULD ENTER HIS KIND OF LEAGUE Candidate Purports to Quote From
 Utterances of Great Democratic Leaders

Marion, O., Oct. 23.-Alluding for the first time to the controversy be- tween President Wilson and Senator Spencer over the formers Paris ut terances regarding America's part in maintaining European peace, Sena- tor Harding said tonight that the version of the Presidents words re- gently published in this country and attributed to Premier Bratiano of Rumania served to throw new light on the real character of article ten.
 The controversy as to the exact language used by MT. Wilson was not itself discussed by the Republican nominee, who said in reply to ques- tion that it was not his dispute. He added however that "the belated tes- timony of the Roumania premier is very interesting by way of confirm ing the presidents objections to amending the league covenant"
 "The president said to several sen- ators," continued Mir. Harding, for one OI WuOIl CdI Spcdh uSIluiISly that any amendment would lead to demands by Roumania and other small notions with attending embar- rassment.
 Brings in Council
 "All this emphasizes our objection to the covenant as written. Clearly the supreme council trespassed the rights of the small nations and as sumed to decide their very own polit- ical and economic affairs and then set about to maintain the existing order of things by the rule of force. It has been the Republican purpose all along to establish world asso- citation for the rule of justice rather than force.
 "Clearly Europe understands that which we are coming to know, that the league as written commits Amer ica to the armed support of the four great powers in maintaining the in tegrity of their enlarged dominions. whenever attacked from without. This is why America will vote its un- alterable hostility to article ten. When that is done we may seek a new understanding, one which will hold us unmortgaged to Europe and the Orient.
 The senator made no speeches dur ing the day but in elaborating his comment on the Bratiano interview he gave out several quotations from Thomas Jefferson, Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson, which he said had a direct bearing uuon the whole league issue. He called attention that it was 97 years ago tomorrow that Jefferson wrote to Monroe:
 "Our first and fundamental maxi mum should be never to entangle ourselves in the broils of Europe"
 The following he quoted from a speech by Grover Cleveland on De- cember 8, 1885:
 eve have foreborne from taking part in any controverys between for eign states but have left to every nation the exclusive conduct and management of it's own affairs"
 Quotes President
 His quotation from President Will sor was taken from newspaper re- port of the presidents words on May 6, 1914. and was as follows:
 America should lead her own life We cannot form alliances with those who are not going our way. We need not and we should not form alliances with any nations in the world"
 In his comments of these utter ances, senator Harding said:
 "To all Americans and especially to all Democrats. it must appear that article ten of the league of nations which would submerge American na- tionality and independence is an arm ed alliance wearing mask of be- nevolent idealism is complete re- versal. not onlv of American but o1 Democratic policies.
 "I do not hesitate to say that stand by the expression of Jefferson Cleveland and that of the president made in May 1914. for am unflinch- irglv opposed to Article ten.
 "Neither Jefferson, Cleveland, nor the president in 1914, were opposed to cooperation between America ana other nations of the world In the prevention of war or agreements Tn peace. I favor it. It is now the op- ligation of the Republican party, ana will be my obligation to take up the constructive work of an association of nations behind which American opinion can be harmonized and Amer l ica united" MT. Harding spent virtually all or today at work on the speeches With which he will wind up his campaign next week in Ohio.