The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-10-18
S. EDGAR NICHOLSON
PRAISES ASSOCIATION
PROPOSED BY HARDING

lowing discussion of the League OF Ma
lions and his views of the presioen-
tial candidates:
Editor, The Richmond Palladium:
There are so many cross currents
in the present campaign that the
necessity for clear thinking seems IL
exist to an extraordinary degree. 1t
is because I do not believe that the
United States can hold aloof from
world affairs, and that it is obligated
by the highest interests of humanity
to associate itself with the other CIV
ilized nations in the best agreement
obtainable to conserve the peace ana
safety of the world, that l expect to
vote for Senator Harding.
Plainly, the issue is not one be-
tween the Wilson League Of Nations,
even with reservations, and no league
at all. He who affirms 1t is merely
throwing dust to blind the public eye
for partisan gain. The issue, square
~ Joined, is between the Wilson
League, with interpretive reservations
(whatever they may mean, based up
on economic or physical force or both,
to conserve the peace of the world,
on the one hand, and the best form of
association or League or covenant OF
the Nations. which the best minds can
devise, based upon the administration
of justice and right, judicially deter
mined. as the best guarantee or inter
national stability, on the other hand,
Doubtful At First.
In the early days of the campaign
there was a decided question mark
after Senator Harding's name SO far
as my own mind was concerned. 1t
was not until his great speech of Aug
nSt % that this was removed When
read his clear and positive declara-
ton that he did not stand for national
isolation, but for association of ma
tons, animated by considerations of
right and justice, instead of might
and self-interest," | readily recognized
that here was the most statesmanlike
utterance of the whole campaign, pro-
posing an international arrangement
so superior to the Versailles covenant
that in my humble judgment there is
no comparison between them, except
to the great disadvantage Of the latter.
Senator Harding with extraordinary
clearness, sets forth in that speech the
1adical difference between the TWO
Sides of the issue. which he styles
the two types of international rela-
tionships." The Wilson League is de-
scrbed as IAN offensive and defensive
alliance of great powers, to impose
their will upon the helpless peoples of
the world" in so far as their right
to seek their political freedom is de-
MED. On the other hand, he believes
that humanity would welcome the
creation of an international associa-
ton for conference and world court.
whose verdicts upon justiciable ques-
\ tions, this country in common with all
nations would be both willing and able
to withhold
Defines Issue.
Here is the issue in a nutshell: An
offensive and defensive alliance of the
nations, or an agreement of the ma
tons by conference and judicial find
ings to determine international pro-
cedure according to considerations OF
right and justice, rather than of might
and selfish interest.
l have seen no indication that Sem
ator Harding has departed in the least
degree from this program. He reiter-
ated it in his letter to President Schur-
man, and it was plainly in the
background of his thought in the more
recent addresses at Des Moines, ST
Joseph and Kansas City. On October
18th he emphasized his position in a
signed statement so clearly that no
Harding Misconstrued.
II is objected that Senator Harding
has no detailed program, and he is
faulted because he does not produce
ready made draft of the proposed inter-
national association. Evidently a
statement in his Baltimore speech, to
the effect that he was without single
constructive program, has been misili-
terpreted. The opposition press has
construed it to mean that his mind
was blank on the question. To my
mind it meant this, and nothing more,
that he was not committing himself
now to a detailed and complete coven-
ant for which we would demand
acceptance on the part of the other
nations; but that the exact form
should be the result of conference of
the wisest statesmen at home and
abroad.
AS legislator of wide experience,
both in his own state and In the
nation. Senator Harding knows only
too we'll the utter folly of demanding
acceptance beforehand. without the
fullest conference on the part of all
persons concerned. Of the exact form
of any piece OF proposed legislation.
He shows his craftsmanship when he
confesses that the association which
he idealiZes is not yet formulated
Were he to prepare precise draft as
the basis Of partisan campaign, 1t
would he to invite rejection by the
other nations involved when their &C
ceptance was sought later on. AS
parties to the agreement. they should
be parties to its preparation and for,
mutation. keeping in mind. however
that our President. as its sponsor
would be a leading factor in molding II
as far as possible according to his own
ideals.
Questions Cox.
Governor Cox is in no position to