Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-18
Harding Must Be Getting Worried

naIOink Nust DC nVV"k
In the course Of few ponderous re-
marks preliminary to the observance OF Con
stitution Day, Senator Harding solemn
iv declared "there is abroad in the land a
spirit which seeks to weaken the adherence
of the people To their Constitution and
which rccklessly challenges it's worth"
Then followed more heavy obiurgntions to
the people to respect and maintain the
injunctions of our fundamental law, and
especially to guard against the subordina-
ton of its authorities "to the control Of the
executive" .'If by some tragic dispensa-
tion of fate this Constitution should cease
to be-" he dolefully declared, "the door
would no longer be closed against the
steady appropriation of autocratic power
and the gradual absorption of the peoples
sovereignty"
What nonsense. What waste OF time
on the part of candidate for the high
office of President to portentousiy erect
an evil that is not even remotely in evi-
dence, and discuss question about when
the people in this campaign have no con-
Germ. And how significant on the part OF
the candidate to ignore the living, vital
issues of the campaign, in which the
people are so directly and Importantly
concerned, to discuss purely academic
proposition, one that does not pertinentiy
apply to the political situation in which so
much that Affects the real interests OF the
people and the country is involved.
1t is surprising with what avidity
Senator Harding seizes upon subjects
that are not germane TO the campaign,
and expresses himself thereon with
positiveness and conviction that arc
utterly at variance with his ambiguity
and wobbling when the League of Nations
or some other real issue commands his at
tention for brief period. The people are
assured with great vigor that he is IN favor
of better pay for school teachers; so are all
of us. He is strong for justice TO the
Indians: so are thousands of his fellow
citizens. He would not have unrestricted
entrance of the Japanese in this country,
that matter has been definitely defined by
law. But he does not know where he
stands in respect of the League of Ma
tions, although it is plainly seen he does
not favor it.
Senator Harding must be very much
worried over the prospects of the cam
paign. Probably he has noted the damag-
ing effects of his wobbling attitude
toward the paramount issue. The
disclosures Of the "slush fund
methods of the Republican National
Committee must be causing him great
But even his fears will not IN
duce him to come out boldly and tell
where he stands in respect OF the League OF
Nations and how be regards the evil alien
influences all over the country which are
flocking to his party in the firm belief that
it means defeat Of all efforts TO remove our
country from its disgraceful association
with Soviet Russia. disreputable Turkey
and Revolutionary Mexico in refraning
from becoming member OF that great
compact for assuring the Peace OF the
World for all time to come.
Senator Harding's attitude must be
source of real unhappiness TO him. Afraid
to take bold stand on the principal issue OF
the campaign, he wastes time and words
in ponderously discussing matters that are
not issues, and boldly declares himself IN
Of propositions TO which there is
opposition worth speaking of.
There is hardly doubt of the real state
Df Senator Harding's mind. Despite the
of Maine. he is alarmed.