New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-09-18

Or Covenant?
Harding Asks
1--WE Cannot Be Governed
From Both Geneva and
Washington,'' Says Cam.
didate i'm Defining Issue
Haiti Action Denounced
Self Determination Taken
From Little Republic and
Santo Domingo by Wilson
From u Stag Correspondent

MARION, Ohio, Sept. lin four
terse sentences Senator Harding to-
day fixed the real question to be de-
termined at TIE polls on November 2.
His words we're: "Thc Constitution or
the covenant; that, my countrymen, is
the paramount issue. The two are
irreconcilable. We cannot be gov
ton. We cannot follow our present
Chief Magistrate without forsaking
the father of our country"
The Senator's statements were made
in speech from his front porch to
moro than 1900 Ohioans who had
gathered from every county in the
state to participate in the celebration
here of Constitution Day.
Senator Harding did more than pro-
claim the big issue Of the campaign
in his speech to-day. He denounced
the grape of Hayti and Santo Domingo"
by the present Administration, en-
ploying language more scathing than
he normally uses in speaking Of his
opponents. He declared we are actu-
ally at war with these little republics
through the usurpation by the Presi-
dent of powers withheld from him by
the Constitution.
F. D. Roosevelt Quoted
In confederation Of his statement,
Senator Harding quoted q "boast" of
Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic
candidate for Vice-President. between
whom, if elected, and the Presidency
itself there would be but single life.
of the former Assistant Secretary OF
the Nays speech in Montana. quoted
him as saying: "You know l have had
something to do with the running of
a couple Of little republics. The fact
Is that I wrote Hayti's constitution
myself, and, if do say it, think it is
a pretty good constitution. Until last
week l had two votes in the League
Assembly; now Secretary Daniels has
them"
The Republican candidate said that
to the best of his knowledge this was
the first official admission of "the rape
of Hayti and Santo Domingo" by the
present Administration, adding:
"To my mind it is the most shocking
assertion that ever emanated from a
responsible member of the government
of the United States. Talk about self
determination, talk about American
ideals, talk about equal rights for small
nations, before a confession of deeds
nnh
smooth rhetoric of vaunted righteous
ness to which we have so long been
accustomed?" Senator Harding's voice
rose as he delivered this paragraph
until at times he almost shouted. He
was interrupted frequently by APP
plause.
In concluding his speech Senator
Harding said: "For myself, have
only this to say: before entering on
the execution Of my Office, if you elect
me to be your President, l shall be re-
quired solemnly to swear that I will
to the best Of my ability preserve, pro-
tect and defend the Constitution Of the
United States
Harding to Guard Constitution
Il take that oath now, my country
men, on this the one hundred and
thirty-third anniversary Of the birth
OF the ark Of our covenant Of freedom"
Senator Harding said in part:
Glow can we, in reason and with
confidence make sure Of fulfilling our
mission on earth? TIE first step is
plain. We must strictly maintain and
scrupulously observe, in letter and in
spirit, the mandates of the Constitu-
ton OF the United States. We are not
doing SO now. We are at war, not
alone technically with Germany but
w ho
publics Of our own hemisphere.
Administration Ursurps Power
There is this difference. The wars
against the Central Powers were de-
creed by Congress in the exercise Of
authority conferred upon it by our
fundamental law, but the wars upon
our neighbors to the South were made
and are SILL being waged, though never
declared, through the usurpation b.,
the Executive. Of powers not on
never bestowed upon him, but scrupu-
lously withheld by the Constitution.
True, we know little Of the conduc,
Of these wars Of occupation and tn,
imposition of laws upon our helpless
neighbors The censorship is no less
strict than it was during the secre,
conferences and conspiracies in Paris
Congress has not been Informed. The
people are kept in ignorance. But
u@s' lhe CoFch OF truth Is lllum-
mating those dark places.
Practically all we know now is tina.
thousands of native Haytians haze
been killed by American marines and
that many OF our own gallant men
have sacritced their lives at the behes i
OF an executive department in order
to establish laws drafted by an AS.
sistaEt Secretary Of the Navy. to secure
vote in the league and to continue at
the point Of the bayonet a military
domination which at this moment re.
qures the presence Of no less than
1000 Of our armed men on that foreign
soil.
Other dixquieting phases Of this
Unprecedented performance on the par,
Of the Authorization need not now be
eonaidered. My present purpose is
served by indicating the lengths to