The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1920-09-17
hARpINc,s WET RECORD

natl, who ruled Ohio from his saloor
on Dead Mans Corner. George b
Cox was always the target of the
better class of Republicans who de
spised his dictatorial and corrupt
methods, but he had his defenders
strange to say some coming from the
better communities.
Among these was Warren G. Hard
Ing, now candidate for president
then lieutenant governor of Ohio
Once, in an excess OF enthusiasm for
his ignoble boss, he arose In a Repub-
lican convention and said: I'VE are
proud to render Difference and devo.
ton to George B. Cox"
This is perhaps the keynote of Mr.
Harding's political existence. George
B. Cox Of Dead Mans Corner directed
his toddling political steps into the
lieutenant governors chair. Daugher
ty placed him in the senatorial seat
and the strong Mormon Senator Reed
Smoot and Boies Penrose, the boss OF
Pennsylvania, are now endeavoring to
make him president OF the United
States.
Always trembling and uncertain
VIXEN left to his own recourse, he
blunders into strange positions and is
prone to wander into blind alleys and
winding labyrinths.
No one question will perhaps Illus.
trate his wobbly position better than
his various speeches and votes on the
prohibition.
Discussing the prohibition question
In the U. S. senate on Aug. l, 1917
Congressional Record 5G4S) he said
~ am not a Prohibltlonist, Mr..
President, and have never pretended
to be. do not claim to be temper
nnee man. do not approach this
question from moral viewpoint, be-
cause am unable to see It as
great moral Issue"
Mr.. Harding had 30 opportunities to
vote on wet and dry issues during his
service in the senate and he voted
wet 80 times out OF 80.
Among the many wet positions he
took was to propose an amendment
to the proposed dry uSth amendment
to the constitution) amendment lin
iting the time that the states had for
ratification to six ears--something
that had never been done before to n
constitutional. amendment. Congress
sional Record of Aug. /, 1917, 5661).
On prohibiting the importation Of
liquors, Mr.. Harding voted Nay (Con.
gressional Record 4751).
On Senator Robinsons measure to
conserve foodstuffs that were needed
to win the war by prohibiting their
use for the making of distilled liquors
Mr.. Harding lined up again with the
vets and voted no Congressional
Record 4792-.
Again no took his stand with the
liquor forces when he voted for Sen.
ator Smoot's bill to take over the dis
titled liquors and pay the distillers
cost plus 10 per cent profit (Congres
sional Record 47S0).
When voting upon the Volstead
amendment (dry enforcement bill)
Mr.. Harding made the following re-
marks:
~ do not think that a prohibition
amendment Will be effective, jMr
President. You cannot mako any Law
stronger than the public sentiment
which sees to Its enforcement. | have
watched the progress Of this question
In the hamlet to the municipality, "a
the county to the state, and the ma
tlon, and while ! stand here and free
ly express my doubts about It's prac
tIcabIiity, at the game time rccog
nIze that II Is growing and Insistent
and persistent and Il must be set
tied"
Read thu above illuminating re
doubts that public sentiment woul,
permit 1t to be enforced. public sentl
ment was 80 strong for II and SO In
sistent that II must be settled
Read II over again and see II yo'
\ can untangle the mussle OF words ant
grasp any meaning. Public sentimen
was SO strongly for the bill he woul,
vote for 1t and yet public sentimen
was 80 strongly against It that
could not be enforced.
Read II once again and YOU win fin
he says public sentiment was 8
strongly for 1t that It was against Il
We defy the strongest mind to gras
any meaning from his tumble q
words. Public sentiment was s
strongly against It that he would vot
for IL because public sentiment wa
against It. We give It up.
Il Mr.. Harding has been repeated