The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-04-14

n
By Favoring Separate Peace With
Germany.
Following custom inaugurated
BY George Washington, abandoned
by Thomas Jefferson and revived by
Woodrow Wilson, President Harding
delivered his first message to con-
gress Tuesday in person,
The two houses assembled in Joint
session in the house chamber 30
hear the executive outline his views
with regard to the many domestic
and foreign problems pressing for
solution.
The presidents discussion Of the
peace question opened with a definite
declaration against the existing
league Of nations.
A distinguished assembIage which
overlooked the chamber long before
one o'clock, when the president en-
tered, heard the executive.
Headed by Vice President Coolidge
and the party leaders, the senate
wnt to the house at 1916, occupying
the front tier of seats. The vice.
president sat at the right of Speaker
Gillett. AT the left was the cabinet
and the diplomatic corps.
The galleries were crowded, mostly
with. relatives Of officials, admission
being by card and capitol corridors
being blocked off.
Mrs. Harding and Mrs. Coolidge
and members of the presidents FAM
ilv, occupied the executive galleries.
Mrs. Harding was given demon
stration, to which she responded
with bow and smile.
There was more applause for the
cabinet, which entered the chamber.
led by Secretary Hughes. The vice
president and senate also cot a good
round Of applause.
Congress should adopt resolution
declaring peace with Germany with
out further delay, President Hard
ing recommends in his first message.
Such action, he said, could in No
sense be construed ais desertion of
the allies. At the same time he
made plain bis belief that the league
OF naEl0ns IS dead.
Measures to lower taxes and lower
retail prices were the outstanding
features Of his Recommendation for
dealing with domestic problems.
The peace resolution, Harding ex-
planned, should undertake to do no
more than declare 4 state of peace
and must put no difficulty in the way
OF collection of Preparations Or che
restoration Of war-torn Europe.
Turning his back completely on
the league of nations, the executive
reaffirmed his allegiance to the ideal
Of world association of nations. Bat
this problem must be deliberately
considered, he added, and he promised
to invite the advice Of the senate
when he feels the time to act has
come.
I'm the existing league Of nations,
world governing with its super pow
ers, this republic will have no part
he said.
There can be no misinterpreta-
ton and there will be no betrayal Of
the deliberate expression Of the
American people in the recent elect
ion"
I'm rejecting the league covenant"
he said later in his address, 1--WE make
no surrender of our hope and aim for
an association to promote peace in
which we would most heartily. join
Turning to the question Of inn
mediate peace, the president said
that the United States alone Of the
allied and associated powers contin-
ues in a technical state Of war.
"This anomalous condition ought
not to be permitted to continue" he
said. ITO establish the state az
technical peace without further de-
lay / should approve a decIaratory
resolution by congress to that effect,
with the qualifications essential to
protect all our rights"
Harding argued against including
in the resolution any declaration 81
future policy toward Europe. Such
a declaration coming from congress
would be an assumption Of function
conferred on the executive.
President Harding laid heavy en-
phasis upon domestic problems.
There is no more pressing problem,
he said, than TO adjust national ex-
penses to national income and at the
same time to lift the burdens OF war
taxation Economy Is to be ssthe
outstanding and ever irnpelling" pur-
pose in both legislation and admins
tration, he insisted.
@One can not be unmindful that
economy is q much employed cry,
most frequently stressed in pre-
election appeals, but it is ours to
make it an outstanding and ever inn
pelling purpose in both legislation
and administration. The unrestrained
tendency to needless expenditure
and the attending growth Of public
indebtedness, extending from, fed
eral authority TO that Of state and
municipality and including the small
est subdivision, constitute the most
dangerous phase Of government to-
day. Our nation can not restrain
except in its own activities, but it
can be exemplar in wholesome re-
versal.
"The staggering load Of war debt
must be cared for ia orderly funding
and gradual liquidation. We shall
hasten the solution and Il effectively
in lifting the tax burdens If We strike
resolutely at expenditure II Is FAR
Continued On Page Eloht