South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-06
.OtherEditorS Than Ours
HARDING's BRAZEN STATEMENT OF THURS
DAY.
Fort Wayne JouInal-Ga1ette.)


Even more impudent stupid than his Balu-
more sreech is Mr. Harding's statement given ou'
from the chilly porch Thursday state
rnent that will stand the acid test of even COM
mon sense There are two features TO this statement
one in which he has the impudence TO say that
Taft and Hiram Johnson holding the same
views on the League Nations. and the other that
the erstwhe progressves are enamored of the poll
cies that ne and PenrOse have in view for the coun-
try.
When he undertakes to convince the people that
the views of Taft and Hiram Johnson are identical
on the League he takes o herculean task. 1t has
not been weeks since Hiram Johnson said: up
on the League Of Nations the issue is clean cut But
the language Of the candidates Is plain and uh-
ambiguous The says he will go into the League
and I am proud say that the other says he will
stay out. Mr.. Harding, happily for him and for
America has scrapped the League Of Nations
Since Hiram Johnson made that bald declaration
of Hardine's intentions he has been challenged
BY the nominee, and until there is denial from
Marion that stands Harding's undisputed posi-
ton.
And Mr. Taft says
II consider the moral effect of Article
predatory nations would restrain them from
war as the declaration of the Monroe doctrine
has done and that the requirement Of the
unanimous consent By the representatives, OF
the great powers in council before League ac-
ton would safeguard the United States from
any perversion of the high purpose of the
League. Moreover. l believe that the issue of
the League (of Nations) transcends in its inn
portance any domestic issues and would justify
and require one who believes 10 ignore party
ties and this great boon for the world
and this country.
It requires the rather crooked reasoning of Mr.
Harding conceive of the men holding these cenr-
" irreconciliabe positions being agreed upon his
policy to the League of Nations.
Either Mr.. Harding is deCeiving both,
the other has scrapped his own views OF the League
How insufferaby silly and dishonest then, 70 in
sist that there is perfect harmony between the two
mems views.
Let us make this proposition: Let Mr. Taft and
Mr.. Johnson support Mr.. Hardng's position the
League from the platform, the same evening
Is that agreeable Mr.. Hays?
And how comes il that the erstwhile progressives
are for Harding? Is it because Mr. Harding said in
1912:
we are opposed TO 7. r. because we believe
him 70 be unsuited character and temIera-
ueut 70 be chief executive; because he is
unsafe and dangerous leader, because he is law
less insncere. selfish and INSCRIPTIONS; be
cause his first administration was unsuccessful
in maintaining the prosperity he inherited; be
cause he IS a bully by nature and lover of
war and is therefore be trusted with
control of the army and navy and our relations
with neighbOrs
Is is because the Penrose denounced by Roosevelt
the most sinister reaCtionary on American sol"
is the present boss Of Mr.. Harding and his party?
Is ~ because Mondell. described by Roosevelt IN
his autobiography the worst enemy OF his con
servation policies in the house IS now the republican
leader OF the house?
Is il because Joe Fordney Of the lumber interests
more reacuonary than Aldrich is the head OF the
committee that determines taXes2
is il because Sen Beverage 1914. IN his speech
az Terre Haute. denounced the most brazen OF
dictionaries Penrose, Smoot Brandegee and Hard
iuE-denounCing them by name?
II be that Mr.. Harding has assurances from
the politicians among the progressives OF 1912 OF
their support possible that he may have made il
worth their while But what has Mr.. Harding 70
offer IN the OF any other than the blacklist kind
OF a reactionary program with which 10 entice the
great body Of conscientious progressives who left
the Iary in 1912 because OF the domination Of pre-
cise.y the same gang that is in the saddle no>g?
The Fort Wayne News right this year when il
declared editorlally that the people suspect that
Harding is much TOO close 10 the old reactionary
gang"
If the parrot Of the porch can actually get
away with such position that contained in his
amazing sta tement Of Thursday. the American peo-
pie have taken leave OF their