Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-21
CANNOT TAKE
COVENANT AS
IT IS, HE SAYS
Reiterates Statement That
He Stands for Internation-
al Association.
Home Questions Should
Take Lead in u. S. Discus
sion, Says Nominee.

Hocnester, N. Y, Oct. 21.-Making
his first speech of the campaign In
New YORK state. Senator Harding here
today again challenged his democratic
opponent to show by his public utter
ances where he has changed his posi-
tlon on the League. of Nations since
ne accepted the republican nomina-
tion. Resting on his stand, he declared
the nation cannot take seriously the
democratic insistence that the cove
nant shall be approved for acceptance
as ~ stands" and added that for
such rejection" he had stood un-
1allingiy. He asserted that he had IA
Vored consistently an international as
sociation in the interests Of peace, but
could not under present conditions
frame definite and specific plan.
am not that kind Of candidate"
ne continued. 1T is easy enough for
canddate who is going to lose to say
Almost anything about the League OF
Nauons or any future plans for Amer
% .ca. Inc democratic forces have para
mounted the solemn referendum of
our foreign relations, and we have
giadiy accepted, but that does not
bind US to the fact that it is designed
to divert attention from the unhappy
failure from domestic administrator
me great and solemn referendum will
not make the American people forget
the tragic mismanagement Of their
own affairs, because they have long
since passed judgment on our foreign
relations.
Rejection Twice Recorded.
Surely the American people cannot
take seriously the democratic insist
encs that the Paris covenant shall
still be considered, as platform and
candidates insist. for acceptance az it
stands Such a rejection has been
twice recorded. I have repeatedly
spoken such rejection from the day
OF accepting my nomination with un-
failing consistency"
But l have never stopped there.
challenged the contradiction. I invite
any mans parallel OF utterances which
are not IN accord. have unfailnRly
said that we wish to associate with
other nations to end war and promote
and preserve peace. The other nations
OF tine world are wiser than our pale
opponents. They have accepted the
fact- that there is no hope of uniting
Americans, or even very substantial
minority behind the impossible pro
posaI that we should accept the cove
hant as written. The foreign nations
nave set their faces to the future So
must America, SO much every friend
or the new and better order.
III l believed in attempting to ex-
press the purpose of the American
people before being clothed with au-
thority to consult them, if 1 desired to
dictate to foreign nations. it would be
possible for me to suggest a new
league, and say to the nations Of the
earth and to my native countrymen:
Take this or take nothing
Not That Kind.
But am not that kind of a candi-
date No man in my position, with any
conscience whatever, or any sense Of
his responsibilities, could have the af-
frontery or the lack of statesnianslip
which would allow him to present a
plan which might have to be revised
because of the happenings in a rapid
flow of events, or because the public
opinion Of America had not been con-
suited sufficiently
Il trust that it will not be improper
for us to consider as hypothetical
question where the country wSuld find
itself in regard to the League of Ma
tions even if my opponents were elect
ed.
How is it possible to take seriously
then this. frantic effort to divert our
attention from that chaos in our home
affairs into which the democratic ex-
pertinent has led us? 1t has been my
duty, therefore. to present a construc-
1--WE program Whlcn Will put our house
in order. say to you so that there
shall be nothing vague nor indefinite
about the difference between ourselves
and our opponents, that they have set
their affairs and entangled our pros
poets and endangered our prosperity
and even menaced our right to call our
American souls. and minds and bodies
our own. The republican party and
America. with an idealism which lin
its itself to wisdom and possibilities.
looks forward to the future with
new faith - e.-. -.-. ~ --E