New-York tribune., 1920-10-12
Unalterably Opposed to
Covenant i'm Its Present
Form, but Hopeful of
Practical World Peace
Wants No Chains
On U. S. Sympathy
America Ready to Do Its
Part, but Its Purposes
Must Not Be Shackled
From q sto6 CORRESPONDENT

MARION, Ohio, Oct. 11.-Returninc
to-day from his speaking tour of the
Middle West and Southwest, Senator
Warren G.. Harding issued statement
which he hopes will leave not shadow
of doubt as to his position in re-
gard to the League of Nations.
In restating his position the Repub-
lican candidate said he was unalter-
ably opposed to the covenant as
drafted at Paris and submitted to the
United States Senate, but strongly in
favor of a world association that would
prevent war and tend to encourage a
better understanding among nations.
Mr.. Harding said his speeches were
not always fully reported in the news
papers and that he wanted America to
understand his Thought of cooperation
as we'll as the abiding opposition to
the league proposed"
Makes Statement Explicit
Senator Harding's statement said:
at seems to me that there should
not remain 81 shadow of a doubt as to
my exact position as regards the plo-
posed League of Nations as drafted at
Paris and submitted to the Senate and
as regards the great world sentiment
for better understanding among
nations to discourage war and general
ly to advance civilization. Let me re-
state my position as explicitly as my
power of words permits.
"First-I am unalterably opposed to
going into the League Of Nations as
that particular proposition now stands.
That proposal is cOntemptuous of and
potentially destructive of the American
Constitution. 1t is not favored by the
American people.
"Second-I am in favor of world
association-call it what you will, the
name is of slight consequence-that
will discourage or tend to prevent war
and that will encourage or tend to en-
courage a better understanding among
the nations of the earth. The old order
of things is done with, not only IN
America, but throughout the world
and the United States, always quick
with sympathy, always Just and usually
led by common sense, must play its
part in this new order.
"Third-I believe that such an asso-
citation can be fotimulated without
wrecking the Constitution, that re-
mains the cornerstone of our liber-
ties and OF our happiness; without
scizing or filching the sovereignty that
is our pride and our inspiraton to fine
living and good works.
Objects to Chained Sympathies
"Fourth--I earnestly believe that the
conscience, the ready sympathies, the
sense of justice and the plain common
sense Of the United States can be de-
pended upon by the rest of the world
and that it would be stupid as we'll as
unlawful to attempt to chain our SYM
pathies, our sense of justice and our
common sense, to tie these strong, fine
dependable American qualities to the
possibly selfish ambitions and aims of
foreign nations or groups of nations
never have been and never will be.
"tlfth-lt is my purpose when elect
ed to take the whole people into my
confidence as regards these matters, to
seek their advice and, more important,
to act consonantly with their ad
vice; and to this end it will be my
pleasure as we'll as my duty to call into
conference with me the best minds, the
clearest minds that America affords
thank God that the time has come
when | can ask the advice of American
women, and especially the mothers of
America.
The substance of these things has
been said in some form or other in
every address, and l say it all definite
y now because | am not always fully
reported and | want America to under
stand my thought of cooperation as
we'll as the abiding opposition to the
league proposed"
Senator Harding will start to-mor-
row on what probably will be the last
speaking tour outside of OhiO he FORE
election. He is scheduled to make
speeches in Chattanooga October 10;
louisville, October ID; Indianapolis
October 10, and ST. Louis, October 16
He will return to Marion Sunday
There will be a three hour stop in
Cincinnati tomorrow night and Mr.
Harding may be persuaded to make a
speech before he leaves.
Speakers at Smaller Towns
The entire journey will be in 4
| ipecial train. This will make it pos
Continued on page three)