Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-12
PRESIDENT STRESSES
DISCARD THE LEAGUE
Continued from page j

powers contemplated in the consttu-
tion and no covenants which ignore our |
associations In the war can De nhaoe
for the future. No helpful society Oh
nations can be founded on justice ana
committed to peace until the covenants
re-establishing peace are sealed py the
nations which were at war 10 sncii
accomplishment-to the complete re-
establishment OF peace and its con-
tracted relation to the realization OF our
aspiratlons, for nations. associated TOT
world helpfulness without world gov
er,,rnent- we shall address ourselves
fulIv mindful of the high privilege and
paramount duty of the United States
in this critical period OF the world
The President reserved his discussion
Of foreign relations for the concluding
portion of his address.
lie took up first the restriction OF ma
tional expenditures To the limits OF ma
,ionaI income which he said must be
considered in connection with measur-
ably lifting the burdens of war taxa
tion by striking resolutely at eNpenu-
ture. ne said solution would be hasten
"a and he warned Congress that 20 con-
tinue n course OF unlimited expenditure
would mean inevitable disaster
ECONOMY III ktNfA So -fNA~f
dnd its reflex in economy and thrift
among the people themselves.
Discussing readiustment OF taxation
President Harding said that the coun-
try did not expect and would not ap-
prove shifting Of tax burdens, but was
more interested in 'wiping out tho
| necessity for imposing them. The
government he said. was committed to
the repeal of the excess profits tax and
10 abolish the "inequitics and unjuStt-
| fable exasperations" in the present tax
system.
| Discussing tariff revision the Prcsi-
dent reafTirned his belief in the pro-
lection Of American industry.
1T is our purpose ne said. ito pros
| per America first The privileges Of she
American market to the foreign pro
ducer are offered too Chcaply today md
/ the effect on much of our own pro-
/ ductivity is the destruction of our self
reliance which is the foundation Of the
| independence and good fortune of our
I peoples Imports should pay their fair
share of our cost of government"
Agriculture the President said. was
! menaced with prices at pre-war normals
and was being further endangered by
high cost OF transportation from farm
/ 10 market ana tlfDuEn inc Influx nA
| foreign farm products
| While he urged emergency tariff re-
| vision Immediately. he spoke OF perna-
| nent revision later and said:
THE maturer revision of our tariff
laws should be based on the policy Of
protection resisting that sefishuess
which turns TO greed but ever con
carned with that productivity at home
which is the source Of all good fortune,
Dcdation, the President told Congress
might we'll receive its attention because
while reduced costs in hasic production
had been recorded. defation had failed
% reach the mark where II could be
! proclaimed to the great mass Of con
sumers." Congress. he said. might helT
speed price readjustments by suit
able inquiry"
Discussing the railroad question
President Harding said there would b,
AN avowed foundation on which TO re-
build IL il could be understood thai
Congress has no sanction for govern
ment ownership" and does not levy
taxes upon the people to cover defcit
in a service which should be self-sus
tanning" Railway rates and costs o
operation. he said. must BE- reduced be
cause freight rates had mounted unit
: commerce is halted and production
: discouraged
Development Of good roads and in
land waterways. the President said
J were collateral subjects with the trans
I portation question and besides endors
4 ing Federal aid to highways he urge
Congress to formulate a consistent pro
gram.
The President added, however, tina
1t would be idle to declare for separat
= treaties of peace with the Centrs
Powers on the assumption alone tina
these would be adequate because tn
. situation is so involved that our peac
engagements cannot ignore the oil
world relationships and the settlement
; already effected. nor is il desirable I
= do so in preserving our own rights an
], contracting our future relationships
+ Although declaring unreservedl
q against the existing league of nations
the President said:
The wiser course would seem TO /
q the acceptance of the confirmation
Il our rights and interests as already Pre-
e vided and to engage under the exist
g ing treaty, assuming of course that tn
n can be satisfactorily accomplished b
n such explicit reservations and modifica
? tions as will secure our absolute fres
T. dom from inadvisable commitments an
: safeguard all our essential interests"
: An. association of nations, the Pres
V dent said could not be founded unit
c the world was at peace.
q -o