Arizona republican., 1920-12-18
Bryan, Gerard and Reed Discuss World Scheme With President Elect; Bryan Praises Harding
TRepublIcan A. ?. Leased WireI


 MARION, Dec. 17-Writ his plan for an association of nations assuming more definite form. President-elect Harding took into his confidence today three conspicuous Democrats. William Jennings Bryan, James W. Gerard and James A. Reed, and asked their advice and their aid in fashioning a prograIf behind which the nation can unite.
 All three came as invited guests of thet president-elect, and their consul tations with him were surrounded with an air of warm cordiality- Afterward MT. Bryan, taking the lead in express ing qualification at the days develop ments, declared his faith in Mir Hard ing as an honest and conscientious public servant whom the whole people would trust.
 The former secretary of state an rounced that he had found himself in agreement with the president t-elect on 1 fundamentals and added that he took l d hopeful view of the conferences here to evolve plan for world peace. Mir. Gerard former American am | bassador to Germany and during the ! last campaign actively connected with 1 the Democratic national committee. joined with Mir. Bryan in expressing satisfaction at the scope of association Of nations conference.
 l Senator Reed reserved judgment of | the outline of an association laid be- | fcre him by the president-elect, but declared himself delighted that one so irreconcilably opposed to the Versailles 1 covenant and to foreign entanglementx generally should have been invited to Mir. Harding's council table.
 None of them would discuss in detail the subjects touched on in their talks 1 with the president -elect, but it became known that something more than a scattered collection of suggestions was i offered for their scrutiny. It is under stood that although Mr. Harding's plan still is far from complete, his talk with leading men has given him the basis of a scheme of world cooperation which he is hopeful will be practicable and acceptable to the nation.
 In all of his conferences from now on, it is expected that opinions will be sought with a view to perfecting the
 plan and ascertaining how far it may be expected to have popular support. Non Partisan Proposal In his talks today MT Harding is understood to have declared a partic-' , ular desire that in the end the proposal , should have tinge of partisanShip.
 After his conferences with Mir. Bryan
 the president elect accompanied his
 guest to a meeting of the laymen of tic Marion Presbyterian church and
 delivered from flag draped pulpit short sermon on the needs for a n5- tional re- -consecratfon to the religious tenets of the fathers He declared that in the present world tumult and in the
 search for a way to end war no ele- ment was so much needed as a deep
 seated religious faith
 '1 don't intend to come as the finest exemplar of what we ought to nr.
 said Ar Harding. but I rejoice in tEs4 l Ill, r.f a r-a1 '
 don't mind saying that l gravely go fo God Almighty for guidance and strength in the responsibilities that arc
 coming to me"
 In the suggestion that the association 7 of nations plan be divested of all par
 tisan color. the president-elect found himself in perfect accord with Nr
 Bryan, who made an active fight io
 keep the league issue out of the re ? cent campaign, advocating acceptance | of the Republican reservations after it !, became apparent that unreserved raii- 7 fication was impossible. It was not re 3 vealed, however, what part NIT. Bryan { recommended for the Versailles cove . nant in the new association plan 9 q believe that Mir. Harding is not - only an honest and conscientious man
 said MT. Bryan, after the conference- Q but I believe he is man whose whole r nurDose is to do what he believes IS ' best for the American people. + is . mot expected, of course. that everyoodE
 win agree as to what is best, but l De- D lieve that if a man wants to do that ! and if that is all of his purpose, the 1 people will trust him and be hopeful q The former secretary was luncheon q guest at the Harding home and Sens- tor Reed was entertained by the Presi- l dent elect and Mrs. Harding at din Q nar and remained in conference in MT. e Harding's office until late at night As one of the most bitter Democrailc n ornaments of President Wilson's poll 2 cies and as a leader in the fight on the Versailles treaty, the Missouri sen a+or smoke for clements hitherto uu~
 renreseuted in tho Marion conference.