Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-04-21
HARDNCS'. MESSAGE
TO 9th CONGRESS
He DweIIs Upon Domestic
and Foreign Problems in
Detail.

Washington.-Amid all the impress
sive solemnity that marks a presiden
tial appearance before a joint session
of congress, President Harding came
before the assembled house and sen
ate Tuesday and gave the nation and
the world the first authoritative out
line of the new administration poll
cies in foreign and domestic matters
The foreign policy which the presi
dent outlined definitely and finally
scraps" the lAgue of nations as ii
now exists and declared that the Unit.
ed States can never become a mem.
Der of it. In order to get the nation
back on peace basis, the president
declared he would approve a congress
sional resolution to this effect, pro-
viding that it contained no more than
| the simple declaration that the state
of war which has existed between the
United States and Germany for four
years is at an end.
While the president was emphatic in
his assertion that the United States
will have none of the league of ma
tons in its present form, he did not,
however, wholly reject the treaty
which former President Wilson inter-
wove in the league. With regard to
the treaty itself, the president left the
door open for future developments.
Tn tbic ba eoid.
THE wiser course would seem to be
the acceptance of the confirmation
of our rights and interests as already
provided and to engage under the ex-
listing treaty, assuming, of course, that
this can be satisfactorily accomplish
ed by such explicit reservations and
modification as will insure our abso-
Lutte freedom from inadvisable commit
ments and safeguard our essential in
terests."
The presidents principal recommen-
dation to congress were:
Foreign relations: No separate
peace with Germany ION the assump-
ton at once that these would be ade-
quate." "The wiser course would seem
to be to engage under the exist
ing treaty, assuming, of course, that
this can be satisfactorily achieved by
such explicit reservations and modi-
fications as will secure our absolute
freedom of land, visable commitments
and safeguard all our essential inter-
ests. no helpful society or ma
tons can be founded on justice and
committed to peace until the cove
nants re-establishing peace are sealed
by the nations which were at war"
Taxation: Readjustment of inter
nal taxes and revision or repeal "of
those taxes which have become I'M
productive and are so artificial and
burdensome as to defeat their own
purpose"
Tariff: Instant tariff enactment,
emergency in character and under
stood by our people that it is for the
only"
Railroads: Efficient operation Eat
a cost within that which the traffic
can bear. ~ railway rates and costs
Of operation must be reduced"
> "The remaining obstacles which
are the inheritance of capitalistic ex-
Dloitation must be removed and Ia
Dor must join management in under
that the public which pays
IS the public to be served and simple
Justice is the right and will continue
o be the right of all the people,"
Good Roads: The strengthening of
avs governing federal aid.
Merchant Marine: private monop.
lies tending to prevent the develop
nent of needed facilities should be !
prohibited aforementioned facili. {
les wherever possible without unduly t
with private enterprise or {
government needs should be made S
for general usages." ]
Aviation: Regulation by the fed I
raj government and encouragement I
+ aviation for development for mill t
airy and civil purposes" q
Service Men: The American people I
xpect congress unfaiIingly to voice {
ne gratitude of the republic in a gen. =.
rous and practical way to its defend l
rs in the world war" The imme- q
late extension and utilization of gov l
hospital facilities to bring
elief to the acute conditions most v
)mplained of"
Public Welfare: "Co-ordination of
arious government agencies now
orking on the subject and indorse- /
ent of the pending maternity bill" d
Lynching: Congress ought to wine -
10 stain of barbaric lynching from ~
e banners of a free and orderly rep =,
sentative democracy. A proposal ~
r a commission with representatives =
white and black races to study and ;,
Offers oil Land for LEASING.
Notwithstanding of the In
F4OF Fall hoe oFForo5 g.. I-