The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-29
DEMOCRATS TRY ID DRAW EXPRESSION
 ON HARVEY'S SPEECH
Presidents Silence Explained By the Delicate Features h. volved-DoeS He Back
 Harvey on the League
By HUGH w. ROBERTS Washington Bureau The Age Herald
 BOO Davidson BuildinR


 Washington, May 2s.--(speciaD- Persistent. though diplomatic efforts on the part of democratic members of Congress to draw from President Harding or some member of his cahi- net an expression regarding the recent Harvey, at the Pilgrims dinner in London. have signally failed
 President Harding has said nothing, has implied nothing. He has not suf- stood" This very fact Is the basis of the pro-Harvey argument that the ambassador would not have made his statements regarding the League of Nations had not the President pre- viously approved them. It is argued that the Presidents silence gives his assent to all that was said
 At the same time, democrats find solace in the silence of the President. They refer to Mir. Harding's campaign speeches for proof that the Presidents $ views differ from those expressed by Harvey. The Presidents silence is ex- plained by the delicate features in- FOiNcu. W AcI6 lH6 to Say that he disagreed with the first he would be forced to recall him. The Flood Proposal.
 It is barely possible that the public will be informed whether or not MT. Harvey spoke for the administration when he told England that the United tates did not go into the world war for any high motives, and only for the purelyg selfish object of Saving our hides."
 Representative Flood of Virginia, a member of the House committee on foreign affairs, has introduced reso- lution calling on the Secretary of State to declare whether or not, in the fore- going particular, Harvey was giving the President, or the administration. The resolution was referred to the committee on foreign affairs. If the President desires to answer the ques- tion or permit 1t to be answered, the resolution will be reported out man inously; otherwise, it will be smoth- tered.
 1 Were the President to answer that question:. by inference he would an swer all that might be suggested re- garding the entire speech of MT. liar l Ney, tOr IT the PreSluent knew in ad- vance that the ambassador would de- clare that the United States entered the war solely to save 'our own hides '' and approved of such declaration, then l he knew in advance that Harvey would scrap" the league-and vice versa
 Republicans Willing.
 If the President is willing. the re- publican members will report the reso lution. For the republicans are openly not overpleased with Mir. Harvey. In the House this week, they joined with | Representative Stevenson of South Carolina in denouncing the published statement of Harvey that no one of his eleven available relatives joined other Vermont troops in fighting the south, that ten of them, when drafted hired substitutes. and that the other the wealthiest of the lot, refused to fight or pay for immunity, and went l to jail.
 Representative Greene of Vermont asked MT. Stevenson if he implied that all men of Vermont were of such a type Denial was instantly made And Mr. Greene exclaimed; T join with the gentleman from South Carolina in ex- pressing my contempt for such patriot ism!"
 So the republicans would act on tbe Flood resolution if the President should give the word The chances are, however, that the word will moi be forthcoming