The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-08
SERVE COMMON IDEALS.
SOCIAL JUSTICE DEFINED
BY MIR. HARDING
Many Subjects For Human Wei
F. fare Are Discussed In
His Speech

Marion, Ohio, October before a
gathering Of women, from his front
porch in Marion Senator Warren G..
Harding today made an address on
social justice IN part as follows:
Americans: Today the people OF
Marion and their neighors welcome YOU.
You represent indeed an extension of
womans field OK endeayor which is a
benefaction to the world. believe that
this extension of women's activities has
been taken and must forever be taken
without peril to- the iulfilment of that
most precious of all American possessions
Americas manhood.
have been asked repeatedly to make
an especial appeal to the women of this
not do such thing If there are among
women the virtues OF stalwart con-
science and the finest appre Citation OF
the needs or humanity as I think there
are then the words that might be in my
heart to say To women would be better
addressed by me 20 the men of the
Emitted States.
Assist Common Welfare >.
j nave refused, and I refuse now to
make an emotional Or meretricious APP
| peal to the hearts of the women of Amer
lea. When we all acknowledge that the
time and the conditions of the world call
| for fuller recognition of human rights
| the protection of the life of human be-
ings and the conservation of our human
| resources, 1t becomes the duty Of the
women Of Am erica. and it becomes my
| duty to deal with these matters of social
| justice upon a high plane of an idealisn
| which Is not to proud to work More II
| Is our duty to consider without hypocrisy
or high sounding phrases program Of
action. And it q my duty to address moi
| only You who are women. now entering
by justice. by the principles of sound
democracy and by the wisdom of pro-
gressive civilization into citizenship but
also to address through you every Ameri.
can who is interested in our common
welfare.
| pledge myself today to support with
policy of social welfare and social justice
can be brought forward by the combined
4 wisdom of all Americans. Nothing car
concern America and nothing can con-
than the health and happiness and the
enlightment of every fellow American.
Have All Americans Safe
] believe that none Of us can be safe
and happy or reach our finest growth
until we have done our utmost to sse
that all Americans are safe. believe
| that, if a wise God notes a sparrow's
fall no life can be so obscure and hum
| BILE that it shall become of no conse.
| quence to America.
|
manence Of such belief can 'be founded
our grave duty and our solemn obligation
| to consider the subject of social justice
| without mere emotion without mere in
spirat ional words without mere entranc.
| ing phrases without mere slogans but
" ith that wisdom, which is needed wher
| the desire of our hearts and heads must
be translated into terms of living actor
land actual achievement.
| The social justice that I conceive Il
not paternalism. 1t would be easy t.
make 1t so, and dangerous indeed to thu
1, best spirit that Americans can have
| the spirit of expressing by, the individual
free will ones own merits capacity ant
worth. We do not want government
to suppress that expression of free will
! even by benevolence but we do mean Il
preserve America and equal opportunitH
and a preparedness for self expression
therein. even though we use the govern
ment to do it..
| Social justice on the other hchd is mo-
| a mere sentiment. To my mind socia
Justice policy in government cannot ant
should not be confined to a program fol
| the flow of benefits from some uncertain
and magic source at the seat of govern
| rnent. could mot even consider policy
or social justice which Is conceived rs sc