South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-18
SEN. HARDING
SEEKS ADVICE
OF DEMOCRATS
President-Elect Holds Session
With Bryan, Gerard
and Reed.
DISCUSS PEACE PLANS
Bryan Expresses Qualification
at Developments of
Confab.

MARION, o., Dec. 17.-With his
plan for an association Of nations
assuming more definite form,
Pres't-elect Harding took into his
confidence Friday three conspicu-
Gus democrats, William Jennings
Bryan, James w. Gerard and James
A. Reed, and asked their advice and
their aid in fashioning a program
behind which the nations can unite
All three came as invited guests
OF the president-elect, and their
consultations with him were sur
rounded with an air of warm cor
diahty. Afterward Mr.. Bryan. TAX
Ing the lead in expressing graft
fication at the days Developments.
declared his faith in Harding as an
honest and conscientious public
servant whom the whcle people
would trust.
Hopeful View.
The former secretary OF state also
announced that he had found him
self in agreement with the presi-
dent-elect on fundamentals" and
added that he took a hopeful view
OF the conferences here to evolve
a plan for world peace.
Mr.. Gerard a former American
ambassador to Germany, and dur
Ing the last campaign actively con-
nected with the democratic national
committee, Joined with Mr.. Bryan
in EXPRESSING satisfaction at the
scope of the association of nations
conferences. Sen. Reed reserved
judgment of the outline of an asso-
ciation laid before him by the pres
ident-elect. but declared himself de-
lighted that one so irreconcilabIy
opposed to Versailles covenant anI
foreign entanglements generally
should have been invited TO Mr.
Harding's council table.
None Of them would discuss in
detail the subjects touched on in
their talks with the Lresident-elect
but II became known that something
more than a scattered collection OF
suggestions was offered for their
scrutiny. 1t is understood that al
though Mr.. Harding's plan still is
far from complete, his talks with
leading men has given him the basis
of scheme OF world cooperation
which he Is hopeful will be prac-
ticable and acceptable to the na-
ton.
Will Seek Opinions.
In all of his conferences from
now on, It is expected that opinions
will be sought with a view to per-
tecting that plan and ascertainine
how far ii may be expected TO have
popular support. In his talks today
Mr.. Harding is understood TO have
declared a particular desire that ir
the end the proposal should have
no tinge OF partisanship.
After his conference with Mr.
Bryan the president-elect accom-
panied his guest to a meeting of the
laymen OF the Marion Presbytery
and delivered from a flag g-drapeC
pulpit a short sermon on the need
for a national reconsecration to the
religious tenets of the fathers. He
declared that In the present world
tumult and in the search for a way
to end war. no element was so much
needed as a deep seated religion:
faith.
In the suggestion that the asso.
citation Of nations plan be divesteJ
of all partisan color. the president.
elect found himself IN perfect accord
with Mr.. Bryan, who made an active
fight TO keep the league issue out
of the recent campaign. advocating
acceptance OF the republican reser.
CONTINUED on PAGE -FOUR.