Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-09-22
WHITE EH0USE MAKES
REPLY TO HARDING
DEFENDING LEAGUE
Secretary Tumulty, After Talk
With President, Gives Out
Statement.
DENIES CONFLICT
WITH CONSTITUTION
Special 70 Nov York Times. i.

Washington. Sept. 22-Joseph p
Tumulty, secretary to President VIII
son. tonight gave to Tho Now York
Times "A prepared statement challenging
thc assertion made by Senator Harding
IN a sp,cch at Marion yesterday, that
no American could be simultaneously for
Article Y and for the American Consti-
tuition "any more than an American IN
lincon's time could be simultaneously
for emancipation and for slavery.
Secretary Tumulty's statement calls
attention 10 the fact that this dcclara-
,,on hv Senator Harding 10 at variance
with the views Of certain leading MEN,
hcrs Of the Republican party with re-
sr,c, to Article X. Mr.. nimulty quotes
from uttcrances by former President
Taft. former Attorncy-GeneralW Wicker
sham. Oscar s. Stratus, who was for
nssly Republican secretary Of the De
rartment Of Commerce, and Herbert
Hoover.
His staNxpent wMa given to Tho Times
IN Response ~ an inquiry a. to whether
he cared " comment on that portion OF
Senator lIarding's spccch.
The statement Of Mr.. 1umulty, who IS
known IA have talked with Prcsndcnt
WILSON during tho day, roads;
"ln discussing Article x IN sPcsen
uadc At MAron yesterday Senator lard
'os NS said; au.,,,.D ,,n b, simultaneously
(m Article X and for the Constitution
II our Republic any more than an Amer
nc>n m Iincoln's time could be sIrnultane-
saasly for emancipation and for slavery.
This rsatcincnt of Senatr Harding
= vrry interesting in view of the attitude
~ the lcading mcmbcrs Of hls own party
on Article y.
'1n an article in The Public Ledger
Apil 80, 1919. Mr.. Taft said, IN dis
curinC Article y:
The arguments against Article X,
which have been most pressed, are
thore directed 70 showing that under
its obligations the United States cAn be
forced into many wars and to support
burdensomc cxpcditonary forces to pro
ts~t countries in which il hse no legitimate
interest. This objection will not boar
examination.
sIn the sAne articIe Mr.. Tslt gave
sddiesooAl rsAsons why Article X wculd
not involve us in wAr:
How much will IL involve N m VIZ?
Little, If any. In the first place, the
universal boycott, first to be applied,
Will impose upon most nations such a
w,thcrmg isolation and starvation that
in most cases it will be effective. In
The second plsoe, we will not be drawn
nto any war in which it will not be
reasonable and convenient for us to
vnder efficiant aid, because the plan
" the council must be approved by our
represents tatIves, A. already explained. In
Mr. third place, the threat of universal
hovrott and the union overwhelming
fwurs of the members of the league, If
Nod be, will hold every nation from vfo-
laA;ng Article X and Articles XII, XIII
,und Nv unless there is a world conspiracy,
~ IN this war, IN which case the earlier
We get into the war the better.
rAvr DENIED suPRRsovKRKuawrY.
'ln another article Mr.. Taft said:
"Au who have pressed for a league of
nations 20 maintain peace and prevent
var must thank God A. they read the
provisions Of the constitution the
league upon which the nations III con-
ference at Paris have agreed.
President Wilson is TO be warmly
congratulated that the League Of Nations
which he promised to the harAseed peoples
In his messages and addresses and has
urged before the conference has taken such
. form.
1T is . real kAeue. 1t has chnohing
provisions.
article X cover. the Monroe Doctrine
and extends il to the world. The league 4
not super-sovereien, but q partnership
intended TO secure to us and an nations
only the sovereignty we can properly have,
e., sovereignty regulated by international
law and morality and consistent with the
same sovereignty of other nations. The
United States IL not under this constItu-
tion 70 be forced into actual war against Its
will. This league Is to be regarded IN con-
- 18th he alx ri Uoc cksy pY, Ix-
with q narrow and reactionAry viewpoint.
mir Taft closes his editorial indorse-
ment of the league with the hope that
a forward-looking Senate will not seek
70 defeat this grand advance of mankind
toward q just and lasting peace. Now
that President Wilson brings back to us q
real league and has fully made good his
announced purpose, 1T would greatly
please this country if the Senators would
give him unanimous support Such ac-
tion would be heard around the world
with ACCLAIM
''ln another article Mr.. Taft said:
81 consider that the moral effect of
Article y on predatory nations would
ton OF the Monroe Doctrine has done,
and that the requirement of unanimous
consent by the representatives of the
great powers in council before league
action, would safeguard the United States
from any perversion of the high purpose
OF the league. Moreover, ! believe that
the issue of the league transeends in its
Importance any domestic issue and would
justify and require one who believes so to
ignore party ties and secure this great
boon for the world and this country.
Evidently Mr.. Wickersham, formerly
aitorney-peneral under Mr.. Taft, and
who is now supporting Mr.. Harding does
not agree with the Republican candidate
that the ratification of the League of
Nations and the Treaty of Versailles
means that our boys will be sent across
the seas
''ln an article in The Baltimore Sun
lac said:
For. If Sir Edward Grey had been able
10 get Austria into a conference with the
representatives of the other great powers
over the Serbian question at the outset Of
the war. 1000, 900 dead men would be
alive today.
There is another leading Republican,
'lr. Oscar Straus, formerly Secretary
tf Commerce, whose views are at va
'ance with those Of the Republican cam
ddate as TO the burdens our country
sould have to bear under Article K. In
m article appearing in The New York
tn-Herald. he characterized the YER
illes Treaty as the greatest political
froievement of the worlds diplomacy.
He said that Article X means the adop-
.,.r -, the world of fho r,ripci,, oe ri