Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-21
HARDING TELLS VETERANS
AMBIGUITY CAUSED WAR
Conflict OF 1SO1-85 Result of Diff
fercnt interpretations OF
Constitution.
DISCUSSES WORLD PEACE PACT
Declares 1t Is Full Of Questions
Which May Drag America I'm
willingly Into Armed Clash,
Despite U. S. Constitution.
b Associated Prcsal

ing that the league OF nations is full
OF known antiquities" and that
1t was an ambiguity in our Constitu-
ton that led to the War Between the
states, Senator Harding today asked
n delegation of war veterans and 4
delegation OF Kentucky and Tennes-
see citizens "how we ever can con-
sent to enter into n now world COM
pact with n dozen antiquities in it?"
The Senator asserted hat Article
" Of the league Of nations is a "re-
ciprocal pledge on our part to help
preserve the independence and ma
tional integrity of forty-four ma
%tions." and that the article and it's
carollaries CLEARLY contemplate war
IL need be, to make his preservation
possible"
Asserting hat President Wilson
had placed the 'purport of an obso-
lcte Slayton-Bulwer treaty" above
our constitutional rights. In requir-
ing tolls from American vessels
passing through the Panama Canal.
Senator Harding exclaimed: "Who
cares to say that this same sort OF
logic will not some day be used TO
plague an unwilling America into
foreign war il We unreservediy sub
scribe TO Article X. the Constitution
TO the contrary Notwithstanding"
Owing to a misunderstanding, the
Kentucky and Tennessee delegation
came today instead of tomorrow, and
the presidential candidate found IL
convenient to ddres them along
with the delegation of G.. A. r vet
Grams. who had stopped or on their
way 10 attend the national encamp-
ment at indianapolis.
Few Wounds Remaining
Senator Harding said. In part:
Il like to think of the blend Of
Kentucky and Tennessee with the
ons Of the North. who saved the
nation. like to think that In this
year. 1920. there arc few wound
OF the Civil War remaining; there
are few evidences OF s%ectionaHsm In
your national life. and there is no
one who regrets the winning OF the
war by the North and the preserva-
tion of this wonderful lam of ours.
Il like to recall that. after all, there
were no very great difficulties be-
tween us. I only think II was pro-
ounce m!sdirected passion for
country. You know there were two
schools OF American politics from tn.
very beginning. One was the ma
tional school and the other was the
school OF States rights. These two
schools in American politics we're in
conflict from the very beginning OF
the republic; they waged their war
rare with never-ending intensity
until II finally eliminated in the
great war. and in that conflict tn.
question was settled and the United
states committed ~everlastingly TO
nationality.
War Result of Ambiguity.
lave O ever stopped to think
mat we, one people with naturally
one interest, were led into the war
by a mere ambiguity in the Federal
Constitution? In the beginning we
were SO wide In our ideas that
there was OF necessity uncertainty
lett In the compact h was made
and 1t required the war to wine II
out. And that was a very great
price to pay. But remembering that
my countrymen. ! want to ask Won
knowing the cost Of wiping out the
ambiguity in the Constitution y,
our own republic, how can we ever
copsent TO enter into q new world
compact with a dozen ambiguitie
in il?
Let me call your particular at
tcn'ion TO one: There is much disnu..
about that which is known as Tho
heart of the league No America,
can be simultaneously for Article \
and for the Constitution OF our re-
public n more than an American
in Lincoln's time could be s;muI-
~taneousiy for emancipation and for
slavery.
frefcrs TO Urcnk Worlds Heart.
Let me say right here, in passing
mat / am a fairly synpathetic hu-
man being, and ! wouldn't break tho
heart of anybody knowingly. bu, r
would rather break the heart Of tho
world thar destroy the soul OF the
United States OF America. Article
y. is a reciprocal pledge on our mar.
to help preserve the independence
and the territorial integrity of forty-
four nations. if all who are juyit.a
to Join the league do so. i~nclud,nc
100000 square miles of the e,rth,s
srfacc. Article Y. and its corolla rios