Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-07-23
f1sHlas'0I fTsD1as Tettsfdsy asSg 1913
Uardinr's Speech Commonplace.

HardinC's Specch tontho"P'"'o.
Even those newspapers and party
headers who will feel Obliged to declare
that senator Hardings speech of accept
ance is declaration of merit VIII be
forced So admit 20 themselves that IL is
the stale. colorless deliverance OF
mediocre politician and the narrow par
tsan. II deals in platitudes of the com
mon place order, and IS literally nom
committal on every vital question that
may come into the spotlight Of the cam
nalrn. Ii accepts. Of course, the league
a. the supreme issue Of the campaign.
Much IL tho speech is devoted to the
League of Nations, and the nominee
attitude is exactly that Of Lodge, as demon
strated IN blocking the ratification OF the
covenant because Of the fact that It would
bring a. the Democratic party prestige
that would firmly root It IN the esteem Of
Americans and of the people of the whole
world
All Of Lodges false partisan olap-trap
on Amcricanlzation Of the League IS
repeated in detail, but not one word Is
uttered 10 show that the ratification OF
the Treaty was urged and insisted on
by the real leaders Of the Republican
party and by the best minds Of this
country. Nor Is mentioned the fact that
practically all the civilized countries OF
the world, except Russia and Turkey
and the United States. have accepted It's
provisions.
senator Harding, however, promises
that this country will unite with other
nations in an agreement, plan or under
stapding ~ solve ,ac peace and big
restoration problems ci the world, but
~ .loes nc intiuasc in what way II Will
s4rve. The attack on President Wilson
and tn, Vtrsailis treav, i sounded IN the
vslre II Iiarding. h'is le is the echo Of
LODGES oa-.,sa. .iatred. More than
quarter OF the address is devoted to the
America first propaganda, an obvious
hlt OF gallery play.
MIR. Harding further on urges labor 10
get 90 work more earnestly, recognizes
that grave inequalities exist in industrial
lfe-inequalities, perhaps he means IN
the division of the earnings of labor and
capital, but there is no suggestion how
such an end NAV be attained. Referring
further 10 labor, the Senator comedies to
workers the right Of collective bargaining
but decries strikes.
Senator Harding also opposes Federal
control Of railways, as does practically
every one else, with the possible exception
of some groups Of Socialists, and desig-
mates the Wilson administration war
time operation of transportation lines
ian experiment" and a failure, when in
the first place II was necessary war step,
and again il accomplished the purpose
sought-the prompt moving of men and
munitions 10 the seaboard, and the
cooperation Of the railroads in the con-
duct Of the war in a heartier degree than
had been extended. In this accusation
Candidate Harding does not referMo the
fact that England, France and Italy In
operating their lines during the war had
met with the same experience as was
Americas, and accumulated q relatively
big financial deficit
And 50 the speech runs without 3
practical suggestion. IL expresses deep
solicitude for the farmer and desires 10
aid him, and promises TO reward our
soldiers OF the World War, but docs not
offer an excuse for Republican Congress
failure 20 vote them bonus OF pension
before the Presidential election
There are twelve or fourteen 81 be
lieves. such as expressing the conviction
that the Federal government should stamp
out lynching, all Of which are as obvious
and undisputed as if he were to declare
in favor OF fine weather to harvest the
nations crops
Harding believes that the rights Of the
Negro should be assured, and favors, as
all Presidents have for~half a century, a
righteous relationship with Mexico"
The Senator points TO his record on
suffrage and thus indicates that at the
moment he was delivering his address he
favored the ratification Of the Anthony
amendment 70 the Federal Constitution.
Senator Harding's address Of accept
ance is disappointing; it is a drab, in
sincere, unoonvincing effort 10 give his
party munitions for the campaign
The speech betrays no indication Of
Senator Harding having any Of the
attributes Of a leader; il is cold, clammy,
uninsplring, and but the echo of the un-
compromising partisans Of his political
camp gho are fighting, body and soul,
to discredit the unparalleled wartime
achievements of the present Democratic
administration.
The candidate, among his sins Of