Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-04-12
TIE Presidents Message

ANY Interpretation desired can put upon President
Hardngs first message to on the peace treaty lie
is both for and against the Versailles treaty. both IN favor
of and opposed to seperate peace with Germany AS an
example of muddy thinking and veering both ways tne
message rivals his stradde speeches during the preeecton
campaign Small wonder the message was held up until the
last minute while best minds of the senate struggled 10
grasp its intent.
an the existing League of Nations this republic will have
no part begins the president who concludes by advocating
he acceptance of the confirmation of our rights and inter-
already provided and to engage under the existing
treaty with reservations and notifications
The president declares that he will favor resolution Tor
with Germany and then declares that 1T would be idle
declare for seperae treaties of with central powers
on the assumption that these would be adequate Nor
desirable to do in preserving our own rights and con-
tracing future relationships"
President Harding does not fail to resort to the old cam
paign bunk about league "supergovernmen and the fail
ure of the executive to recognize the senate and the
Solemn referendum and is evidently trying to justify his
acceptance of the treaty of Versailles with reservations by
abuse of the League created and slams at his predecessor
who sponsored it. He shifts the job of drafting peace upon
the senate though he the elder statesmen that they
must not entirely supplant the executive.
Probably the president that the senate should
ray the treaty Versailles without the League of Nations
though he express himself clearly If this is the
case it his approval of all the mperastic features
of the treaty, the division of spos and the injustice that
make of dragons teeth and the OF future
conflicts and eliminates the redeemng feature, the
League of Nations to preserve world peace. Instead Mr.
Harding would force the al nations who members to
discard the League and league to accommodated
the egences of American party politics and crafty the
grudge Of senate leaders, merely because the existing
League the work of Woodrow Wilson
No program that could be put forth will better crafty the
reactionary influences of the world which all along have
opposed and fought the League of Nations Mr. Hardng
program will please the advocates of old world diplomacy and
the sinister forces that create for the profit made by
armament and territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT 1t will be highly
gratifying also to the reactonary forces in America whose
representatives control the senate.
Upon domestic problems the president advocates much
legislation in general, off-hand way, by declaring isl
needed without telling how the desired result to be accom-
pshed This also is left to congress to originate and enact
fit His faith congress shown by the request
of Investigations of the foor price situation remedy for
the high cost of living and investigation of ynchng
means to abolish it.
The president demands lower railroad rates and owerl
costs of operation but does not bother to formulate rail
road policy solution of traffic ills. He favors emerg
ency tariff without specifications, and tax reduction without
details No where does he outline program of constructive
accomplishment That is left to "best minds while the
ecuve shakes hands with visiting bOobs.