Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-07
Harding to Reject
League of Nations
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
the mandate Of the constitution, Is
wholly responsible for that condition.
THE issue, which our opponents are
endeavoring to befog, is singularly sim
pie and direct. That issue, as made
by the Democratic President and the
Democratic platform and the Demo
cratic candidate, does not present to
the American people the question
whether they shall favor some form of
association among the nations for the
purpose of preserving internntioun'
peace. but whether they favor the par
ticular league proposed by President
Wilson.
THE Democratic platform and can
didates have not declared for an asso
citation, but for that association, and
1t is that association. and not some
other, which we are promised will be
ratified within sixty days If the Demo.
cratic candidate be elected.
The platform, to be sure approaches
its indorsoment with winding words and
sly qualifications calculated to betray
the innoccnL and entrap the unwary
but it does, nevertheless, indorse the
league as it stands.
1T does not advocate or favor any
reservations or amendments or changes
or qualifications. 1t goes no further
than to suggest that reservations will
not be opposed which make clearer or
more specific the obligations of the
United States to the league. But there
is no need of reservations of this char
acter. The obligations are clear enough
and specific enough"
II oppose the proposed league not
because | fail to understand what Il
former member Of the Democratic ad-
mi n 90 trn rn4 in,, hng enid ',yn hpipU LOT
in for, because ] believe | understand
precisely what we are being let in for.
| do not want to clarity these obliga-
tions; | want to turn my back on them.
1t is not Interpretation. but rejection.
that ! am seeking. My position is
that the proposed league strikes a deadly
blow at our constitutional integrity aud
surrenders to dangerous extent our
Independence of action.
Tho Democratic platform rejects
this position, to quote the exact wosus,
''as utterly vain. il not vicious The
Democratic candidate in his speech OF
acceptance has said, "A definite plan
has been agreed upon. The League of
Nations is in operation. Sena-
tor Harding as the Republican candi-
date for the presidency. proposes Ia
plain words that we remain out of it.
As the Democratic candidate, | favor
going in The issue, therefore. is clear.
| understand the position of the Demo-
cratic candidate and he understands
mine, as his own words just now quoted
plainly show, notwithstanding the re-
cent pretensc that my position has not
been made clear. In simple words, 1t
is that he favors going into the Paris
league and | favor staying out.
Wants No One Nislcd
II do not want any one to be misled
! will have no mans vote upon n msi-
understanding, and I am equally de-
termined. If ] can prevent it, that my
opponent shall have no mans vote
upon a misunderstanding. My position,
] think. has been made perfectly plain,
but whether it has or not. his position
is beyond cavil. and it is that we shat
go into the Paris league without moditi J.
cation or substantial qualification. To
such a betrayal of my cOuntrymen l
will never consent. To those who de
sire TO incur the hazard of entrusting
any of the powers of the republic to the
direction Of supcrgovernment, or, IL
you prefer, TO council of foreign
powers. whether the obligation to tol-
low the councils direction be one Of
legal or of moral compulsion. l frankly
say: Vote the Democratic ticket. and
pray rbh W pl'l'Nl Nbh uSolhSN wv
consequences Of your folly"
1--WE have been told that we must
ratify the proposed covenant in order
to become a member of the league. and
that if we do not. shall be obliged to
stand with hat in hand and sue for ad-
mission hereafter. He who presents
such humiliating picture is singularly
blind TO the facts. We stand almost
alone among the great nations in our
dsinterested relation to the problems OF
the world. Because of this the world Is
readv.to recognize our moral leadership
Because we are not vitally concerned
in the conflicting interests Of Europe
because we are independent, because W,
are able to approach the solution Of tn,
questions which continually threaten tn,
peace of Europe as an unp"ejudiced um
pirc rather than az an interested party
| the world will bo g'ad to have us formu
late the plan and poin' the way.
! Surely we have suffered enough from