Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-10-29
THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE
TRUTH.
New York rimes.)

Iherc has been more misrepresen-
tation, prevarication and downright
falsehood in this campaign than in
any other Presidential contest within
the memory of men. 1t is of common
knowledge and an every day incident
that in the outgivings of the advo-
Gates of MIR. IIarding's election, the
uttcrances of the candidate himself.
the speeches of his supporters, state
ments issued by group or organiza-
tons in support of his candidacy,
startling departures from truth are
constantly detected and exposed. 1t
is not merely that untruth its charg
ed. 1t is proved. They declare that
Mr.. Wilson insisted upon the agree
mcnt (the League of Nations) abso-
lutely unchanged" and they 10 on
repeating that falsehood day after
day, although the Presidents letter
to Mr.. Hitchcock declaring that he
would accept the Senator's reserva-
tons has been published all over the
country. Those reservations met
every objection sincerely urged by
Republican critics. They defiantly re-
peat the charge that MIR. Cox "dc-
clares that he will insist upon the
Treaty just rs Mr. Wilson negotiat-
ed it," although they know very we'll
that Mr.. Cox has many times en-
pressed his willingness to accept re-
servations that clarity, strengthen or
explain, including reservating
pointing out thatany act Of war on
our part must have the authorization
of Congress.
1t is bad enough that the Repub-
licans should misrepresent the Demo-
Gratis. But why should they invoke
Ananias to deceive members of their
own party? The statement Of the
thirty-one leading Republicans de-
claring their support of Harding is
conspicuous instance. That was an
appeal to the Republicans to stand
fast. Yet it repeats the false elega-
ton that Mr.. Wilson insisted upon
the Covenant without change, and
Senator Harding's famous speech of
Aug. %: These Republicans quote
Mr.. Harding as saying that "there
are distinctly two types of interna-
tional relationship. One is an often
sive and defensive alliance of great
Powers." The quotation breaks off
there in the middle of sentence
which Mr. Harding completed in these
words, like that created at Versail-
les, to impose their will upon the
helplescs peoples of the world" Then
follows this declarations:
FRANKLY, l am opposed to such
scheme as that, and | speak know
ingly when say that the Associat-
ed Powers, with whom we fought
the war, were reluctant to accept
such Il proposition. | am opposed to
nf
coming party to so gross an out
rage upon other people who have
as good right to seek their poll
teal freedom as we had in 1776 md
have the same right to develop en-
inence under the inspiration of M
tionality MS we held for ourselyes.n
All that is omitted and the quotation
proceeds by inserting the next para
graph of the speech beginning with
the words, "the other type is a So
ciety of free nations or an associa-
ton of free nations" and so on.
Worse than that, these thirty-onc
omitted all mention of
the Des Moines speech in kwhich Mr..
declared that he wanted no
of the provisions of the
Covenant, he wanted rejection. Mr..
Cox. he said. wanted to 90 in, he did
not. Anybody can see why these
fatal passages were omitted. The
thirty-one were trying to persuade
themselves and other Republicans
that 1--WE can most effectively ad-
vance the cause of international CO.
operation to promote peace by sup
porting Mr.. Harding for election to
the Presidency" The Des lMones
utterance was excluded because it
would not do at all to show that this
candidate whose election w>uld so
advance the cause of peace repects
the only safeguard of the worlds
peace now possible of adoption. \
Already the Republicans are at
odds among themselves Gross and |
fragrant Misrepresentation of Har-
ding's position is charged by Sem
ator johnson Unon that wing Of the |
Party which processes to |
see some good in the League. Hiram
Johnson understands the Des Moines |
utterance. He knows where Harding |
stands. How far the thirty-one are
actually deceived about Mr.. Hard !
ing's attitude toward the League of |
Nations we do not kn/w. Senator
Johnson is not deceived. He has the |
candidates word for it that he has
turned his back on the League of |
that he wants rejection.
Plainly, the Republicans in this
are afraid of the truth. |
They do not want the people to know
that Governor Cox is WILLING tn ar |