Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-21
HARDING DEFENDS
STAND ON LEAGUE
Offers Reward to Anyone Who
Will Produce Specific Evid-
ence That He Has Ever
Changed His Position

jackson, Ohio, Oct. 2o--Replying to
Governor Coxs charges of inconsist-
ency on the League of Nations issue,
Senator Harding Offered in a speech
here to-day to give "a reward" to any
one who would produce specific evid-
ence Of a change of position since he
accepted the Republican nomination for
the presidency.
Mr.. Harding also asserted that If he
had no specific plan for a world asso-
citation. the same was true of Governor
Cox. who had not told the people what
reservation to the Versailles covenant
he was willing to take.
II do not believe in very much of
the Presidents league" said the Re-
publican nominee. And if the Demo
cratic candidate wants to regard this
Is my thirteenth change. ! give him
notice that | have one more yet to give
him, because. you know. I am entitled
to fourteen"
NEVER INCONSISTENT
But as a matter of fact, I will give
a reward to any man in America who
can take my utterances on world pol
itics. from my speech of acceptance
down to the speech am making "a
this hour. and point out any incon
sistency or change of position.
! 81 have said from the beginning that
we wouldn't have the Wilson covenant
and say that to you again now. But
| have said repeatedly that America will
| gladly play her part in a suitable asso
! citation of nations which does not involve
the surrender of American sovereignty
| which is built upon the ideals of jcstic'
ra ther than force; and I say that agtIG
II have not. Of course. specified jus
| how we would do It, because am goirs
| to be called upon to make good. But, m,
p, countrymen, never with ~ticle ten. thu
| heart of the league. That Is a heart o
steel under a coat Of mail, while we wan
q heart and soul OF justice for a bette
order in the world
II hope that does not leave you in an,
very great doubt. Let me ask you aues
ton: Have you heard anyone who is in
sistng upon specific plans? Have yo'
heard of anyone who tells us they vii
| take the Wilson league with interpreta
tions or reservations. and have you hear'
any of them with their glibncss OF tongu
tell you what reservations they arc goin
to take? No. you haven't"
SPEAKS At BARBECUE
Tho senator's reference to the leagu
was made in the course of a speech at
Republican barbecue here. attended b
several thousand people from souther
Ohio and neighboring States. Immediatel
afterward he left on a special train &c
Rochester. n. V. whore he will spea
, Tomorrow before winding up hts csn
paign trip with night meeting E
: Buffalo.
Besides the league issue. the Republica
, candidate dealt with many other sui
jccts' In his barbecue speech. He a
: tackled the Democratic party as part
, of phrase making" and praised the RI
publican protective policy as a examp
= of constructive performance" under r.
! publican guidance. He also again a
C sailed the Interstate Commerce Comm
sion for failure to pro-rate coal cars und'
provisions of the Cummns Esch act, d
claring that were he president, he wou
"set aside a commission which pursue
such a policy
In his discussion of the tariff, the cal
didate made particular reference to u
iron and steel industry as an instance
helpful development under protection. /
called attention to the southern tari
congress recently held at New Orlea'
. and added
'rhey weren't quite ready to acce
the Republican covenants, but they we
" good and ready to accept the doctrn
| of tarlS Drotecton, IneE 'ooh 'he ~
step toward emanci patton from paralyzil
| democracy
d, DEFENDS CUMMl NS-ESCII LAW
Detailing the provisions of the Cur
Minis Esch law, Mr.. Harding said IT n
only contained a new bill of rights +
labor" but offered means of impro
ing the coal situation by authorizing Il
Interstate Commerce Commission to
y sure an equitable distribution OF q
cars.
"That's the Cummins- Esch bill
continued. II know it is not enforce
but that's not very surprising thu
, under the present administration. T
n Interstate Commerce Commission took
n upon itself to set the law aside, and
= I were president I'd set aside the Int
a | state Commerce Commiss ion that
Il it."
, The Versailles league was referred
, hy the nominee AS largely q memo
, now" And its labor provisions and ar
: Gle ten were made the principal targt
of the senator's attack, Under the lab
division of the league, he said, conditio
of labor and of commerce would be det'
mined by a council In which the Unit
r States would have four votes and Il
.ign nations would have 12S. He also
ferred to the Democratic charges of
y Senate oligsrcW and added;
God strengthen the hand of that $
80 called oligarchy If there is to be anotf
=, Democratic administration