Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-25
HARDING TURNS TO TAFT
FOR ADVICE ON PROBLEMS
World Peace and Organization OF
Coming Administration Dis
cuSSed at Marion.
MAY SHAKE UP ALL BUREAUS
Former Executive Made Study in
Closing Days Of Regime-Presi-
dcnt-Elcct May Garry Out Work
Begun III 1910.
tBy Associated press1

tBy Associated Press.]
MARION. OHIO, Dec. 2i.-Presi
dent Elect Harding turned to former
President Taft today for counsel on
the world peace problem and on prac-
tical details OF organizing the next
Administrations
The conference was arranged at
Mr.. lIarding's request and Is under
stood to concern particularly the
proposal for new international
court in which the former President
has been interested for many years.
Mr. Taft was supporter of the sVer-
sailles league. but has taken the at
titude that some different agency now
must be organized to stabilize world
conditions.
Another subject on which the
F'resident-elect wanted Information
and advice was the proposed reor-
ganization of the executive branch
OF the government. In the closing
days Of his administration Mr.. Taft
made study OF tina: problem and ap-
pointed an efficiency commission to
undertake the work OF reorganiza-
tion.
The coming of Mr.. Taft revived
speculation about his possible np-
pointmcnt to sc.ne high post under
the coming administration. He has
been mentioned most frequently for
n place on tho Supreme Court bench.
but his name also has been heard
many times in Cabinet gossip.
After the talk Mr.. Taft Issued the
following statement:
enjoyed very much my confer
ence with Senator Harding / found
that he had been using the confer
enccs with his visitors to formulate @
and confirm the general views he eS-
pressed In his speech OF acceptance
and that Of August %, and that he
felt confident that the desire of the
American people, as Interpreted by
him In his campaign experiences and
In the results of the election, was to
avoid the political and military obli-
cations of the treaty and the league.
He feels strongly the necessity FOR
reaching n common ground with the
leading powers OF the world for an
agreement that shall secure n gradu-
ally effective limitation Of armament.
court with Jurisdiction over justici-
Dble questions and q conference of
nations to negotiate and press n COM
promise of every nonjusticiable ques-
ton threatening war and which shall
give us the benefit OF the adjustment
OF our relations with Germany.
secured to the United States in the
treaty without Objectionable features
as shown in the Republican reserya-
tons and without participation in
such commission under the treaty as
concerns nations.
i am much encouraged to think
that the Senator is working out a
practical solution which may not be
wholly satisfactory to the enthusi-
asts at other extreme, Of whom may
be considered one, but will satisfy
those anxious to make progress and
anxious to give the United States the
leadership She should have in guiding
all the nations to permanent peace so
far as that Is practicable.
"Of course the Senator is properly
chary OF a definite program because
it must depend on the circumstances,
which only actual conferences with
is bent on working out in a very
practical way real and useful asso-
citation Is most apparent.
He is in an accommodating state
of mind as TO details and even i'm
portant provisions. IL the definite OBJ
jections he always expressed to the
method and aims and obligations OF
political and military character
contained in the treaty and the
league are obviated in the new agree
ment.".
Senator Harding has no confer
! cnccs or engagements scheduled for
tomorrow. With Mrs. Harding he
will eat Christmas dinner with half n
dozen newspaper men whom he has
invited to be his guests