The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1921-04-16
PRESIDENTS FIRST MESSAGE.
Is DELIVERED TO CONGRESS
HARDING is OPPOSED TO LEAGUE OF NATIONS AND
FAvORS A SEPARATE PEACE - READS
HIS OWN MESSAGE.

Washington.-F1nal rejection OF the
Versailles League Of Nations by the
American government was proclaim.
ed to the world by President Hard.
ing I'd solemn pronouncement Of
the foreign policies OF his administers.
ton.
Speaking before the new Congress,
assembled to write program Of 20
littcal and economical reconstruction.
the president declared acceptance Of
the league would be nothing short Of
a betrayal of the mandate Of the No
for a congressional declaration Of
peace and for ratification. of those
portions of the Versailles treaty which
protect specifically American rights
and interests in the war settlement.
President Harding's principal rec.
concentrations included the following.
Foreign relations: No separate
treaties of peace with the Central
Powers ION the assumption alone that
these would be adequate. The wiser
course would seem to be to engage
under the existing treaty, assuming.
of course, hat this can be satisfac-
torily accomplished by such explicit
reservations and notifications as will
secure our absolute freedom of mad
visable commitments and safeguard
all our essential interests. No helpful
society of nations can be founded on
Justice and committed to peace nm
til the covenants re-establishing peace
are sealed by the nations which were
at war"
sTaxation: Readjustment Of inter
nal taxes and revision 'of those taxes
which have become unproductive 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 1t is for the
emergency only"
Railroads: Efficient operation at
cost Within that which the traffic can
bear. Railway rates and costs Of ope-
ration must be reduced The remain
ing obstacles which are the heritance
OF capitalistic exploitation must be
removed and labor must join manage
ment in understanding that the pub
lie which pays is the public to be
served and simple Justice Is the right
and will continue to be the right OF
all the people"
Merchant Marine. The United
States means to establish and main
tain great merchant marine.
Coed Roads: The Strengthening OF
laws governing federal aid.
Communications: Private monopo-
lies tending to prevent the develop
ment of needed facilities should be
prohibited. Government owned facil-
tiles wherever possible without I'M
duly interfering with private enter
Prise or government needs. should
be made available for general usage.
Aviation: Regulation by the Ted
eral government and encouragement
OF aviation for development for milf
tary and civil purposes.
AS to Veterans.
Service men: The American people
expect Congress unfailingly to voice
the gratitude Of the republic in gen.
erous and practical way to Its de-
tenders in the World War. The I'M
mediate extension and utilization OK
government hospital facilities to
bring relief to the acute conditions
most complained OF.
Public Welfare: Coordination OF
various government agencies now
working on the subject and endorse
ment OF the pending maternity bill.
Lynching: Congress ought to wipe
the stain of barbaric lynching from
the banners of free and orderly
representative democracy. A propos-
al for a commission with representa-
tives of white and black races to study
and report on the subject. the presi-
dent said, has real merit"
Army and Navy: Early considora-
ton of pending appropriation bills
was urged. "The government Is IN
accord with the wish to eliminate the
burdens of heavy armament, sa1d
the president. The United States
ever will be In harmony with such .
movement toward the higher attain
ments of peace But we shall not en-
tirely discard our agencies for defense
until there is removed the need to
defend. We are ready to cooperate
with other nations to approximate
disarmament, but merest prudence
forbids that we disarm alone"
The War Debt.
National Finance: THE staggering
load of war debt must be cared for
in orderly funding and gradual hqui-
dation. We shall hasten the solution
and aid effectively in lifting the tax
burdens Il we strike resolutely at ex-
penditurs-"
Administration: Enactment q .