Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-28
HARDING WOULD SUBSTITUTE HAGUE
TRIBUNAL FOR LEAGUE OF NATIONS

upon the ground that the tribunal
lacks teeth. Very we'll, then. let's
put teeth into It. If. in the failed
league OF Versailles. there can be found
machinery which the tribunal can use
properly and advantageously, by all
! means let it be appropriated
81 would go even further. ] would
! take and combine all that is good and
! excise all that is bad from both organ =
| izations. This statement is broad
! enou h to include the suggestion that
| il the league has been so entwined and
! interviewer into the peace Of Europe
that its good must be preserved in
| order to stabilize the peace of that
| continent. then il can be amended or
revised SO that we may still have a
| remnant Of world aspirations in 1918
builded into the worlds highest concep-
| ton of helpful co operation in the ulti-
mate realization.
Il believe humanity would welcome
the creation of an international asso-
citation for conference aud world
court whose verdicts upon justiciable
questions this country in common with
all nations would be both willing and
able to uphold. The decision of such
court or the recommendations OF such
conference could be accepted WITHOUT
sacrificing on our part or asking any
other power to sacrifice one iOta of its
nationality.
'The Democratic nominee has spoken
about America abandoning her asso-
ciates in war and deserting the allied
nations in establishing the League Of
Versailles. / do not think it longer
necessary to challenge that statement or
pass further opinion upon the unfortu
nate league. 1t has already been aban-
doned by Europe. which had gone so far
as to accept it by formal agreement in
| treaty.
Listen to the wise and far seeing
former British ambassador. who was
not permitted to present his credentials
to our executive. AS long said Fis-
count Grey, hardly a month ago, 'as
long as the richest, most powerful, the
greatest, both for population and terri
tory, of the civilized countries of the
world stands outside the league the
league will be unable to fulfill its des-
tiny. To put it in quite plain terms,
the Americans must be told that if they
will only join the league they can prac-
tically name their own karms
Undoubtedly that is the fact. ask !:
Is there any good reason why we
should not avail ourselves of this priv
| ilege? ! do not mean in any arrogant.
VI VI VI Stll
| ish way, but simply as a matter of
. fairness and right to our own people.
"Niscount Grey continues The
Americans should be intrusted with the
task of drafting reconstruction
scheme. Then he suggests further that
a committee Of the Senate could draw
up suggestions for the reconstruction
OF the league.
Frankly, value that suggestion
very highly. 1t comprehends substanti-
ally what | would propose to do If
elected President. | do not mean pre-
! cisely that. 1t would be clearly un-
wise to undertake specific suggestions or
to attempt to pass upon suggestions
now. What is in my mind is the wis.
dom Of calling into real conference the
ablest "Ld most experienced minds OF
this country from whatever walks of
life they may be derived and without
regard to party affiliation, TO formu-
late definite, practical plan along the
lines already indicated for the con.
sideration Of the controlling foreign
powers.
"Thr objection that this course
would involve the reconvenng Of the
entire convention may be regarded aS
very slight one. The acceptance of our
proposals by the few principal nations
would undoubtedly be followed prompt
ly by the acceptance on the part Of the
minor members Of the alliance,
No Material Delay
"Thcrr would be no material delay.
In 50 far as could do SO. without dis
regarding the proprieticS. ] should give
very earnest and virtually undivided
attention to this very vital subject from
the day of my election and ] should ask
( of Inrg tn do likpuisn nl a ,,F
public and patriotic duty.
Does some one say that ! ought to
be- more specific? One cannot be, with
any sense of certainty. No one can
forcS"c the exact conditions by whirh
our country will be confronted seven
months hence. World opinion and our
own opinion have been changing very
rapidly in the last few months.
II have no expectation whatever Of
finding il necessary or advisable to ne.
gOtiatc a separate peace with Germany.
In view of the simple fact that the
allied powers with whom we were Hs>o
ciGted in the war have already formally
c0n"Iudrd their peace, the passage ot
peace resolution by Congress would
merely give formal recognition to an
obvious fact.
during tn" six years of my service
~ 'uHHlls'On nave 90 operated quite
inSistentIy with my colleagues in main
taining the prcrogatNes of the Senate
as defined by the constitution. In
doing 50, ] felt that was only per
forming my duty under my oath Of
Once. Nevertheless, justly or unjust
~, IN common with others, / have been
! subjected to more or less criticism which
OF course, | have no thought of resent
ing,
THE point which / have in mind is
II all goes we'll, on the 4th of March
= next ! shall cease to be senator and
almost aS surely shall become the Prcsi.
drnt, What ] wish, in passing, to call
TO your attention is that as IA senator
] have established for myself a precp
dent and you may rest assured that I
shall guard with equal frmness. insist
rnce and jealousy the prerOgatiyes of
the executive, who is perhaps more dis
/ tinctIy aud personally responsible than
any other official directly to the whole
American people.
LET us take stock for a moment of
America in the world, aye, and OF
America at home. Let us be done with
wiggling and wabbling. Steady Amer
ica Our moral leadership was lost
when ambition sought to SuDerimpose
a reactionaTy theory of discredited autoc-
rary upon the progressive principle of
| living, glowing democracy. My chief
aspiration, my countrymen. if clothed
with power, will be to regain that lost
leadership, not for myself, not even for
my party, though honoring and trustinS,
It as l do but for my oOuntrya