The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-10-07
HARDING GOES
ANOTHER STEP
AGAINST PACT
Republican Presidential Nom
inee Accepts Direct Issue
OF Rejecting or Ratifying
League Covenant.
SAYS STAND IS CLEAR

DEs MONIES, Iowa, Oct. "A d.
rect issue OF ratifying or rejecting the
league of nations was accepted by
Senator Harding in a speech here Ia.
oay, brushing aside the problem Of
carrying reservations and declaring
re would favor staying out" of the
covenant written at Versailles.
The candidate said he wanted no ac.
ceptance of the league with reserva-
tlons to clarity American obligations,
Dut that the proper course would be
10 reject those commitments al
together.
Governor Coxs definition of the
issue was accepted in direct terms by
Ine republican nominee who saiC
Democratic stuhbornness had prevent
ed the Senate from perfecting the
covenant and has made the question
placed before the voter a simple one.
The Senator also restated his pro-
gram of world association based on
principles in harmony with the con-
stltution and renewed his pledge to
initiate the formation of such a con-
cert Immediately after his election.
our opponents" he said, ARE per-
slstently curious to know whether, il
or, perhaps l might better say,
when-l am elected, intend to scrap
the league. 1t might be sufficient ip
reply TO suggest the futility of scrap
ping something which is already
'scrapped.' Whether President VIII
son is to be blamed or thanked for
the result the fact remains that the
Paris league has been 'scrapped' by
the hand of its chief architect
League Is Deadly.
The Democratic platform and can
didate have not declared for AN as
sociation, but for that association,
and it is that association and not
some other which we are promised
will be ratified within 60 days if the
Democratic candidate be elected.
The platform, to be sure, approach
es its endorsement with winding
words and sly qualifications calculated
to betray the innocent and entrap the
ltnwary: but it does, nevertheless, en-
! dorse the league as it stands.
! MY position is that the proposed
! league strikes a deadly blow at our
constitutional integrity and surren-
Gers to a dangerous extent our inde-
pendence OF action. The Democrats
platform rejects this position. to quote
the exact words, as utterly vain, if not
vicious
Il understand the position of the
Democratic candidate and he under
stands mine. In simple words, it is
/ he favors going into the Paris League
and l favor staying out.
We Stand Alone
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, we shall be OBJ.
! liged to stand alone with hat in hand
and sue for admission hereafter He
who presents such humiliating pic
ture is singularly blind to the Facts.
We stand almost alone among tho
great nations in our disinterested re-
lation to the problems of the world
Because Of this, the world is ready to
recognize our normal leadership.
Surely, We have suffered enough
from the autocratic assumptio of 4
personal wisdom, which will neither
take counsel nor learn from expert
ence.
Il shall not risk embarrassing and
final solution of a problem so mo.
mentous by undertake to lay down
in advance specific details or plans.