New-York tribune., 1921-03-13
Assailed
For Back Hand
Slap at Harding; 2;
DR.. Van De Water Answers
Publicist's Attack at the
Republican Club With a
Plea for Common Sense
Gen. Stotesbury Criticized
Senator Calder Appeals for
United Action to Bring
About Normal Conditions

The Rev DR.. George r. Van De Water,
of the Church of the Beloved Disciple,
assailed George Creel, former Director
Of Public Information, at the National
Republican Club yesterday afternoon,
and judging from the loud and long ap-
plause which greeted his remarks, the
Republicans liked what he said while
Mr.. Creel did not seem to mind it very
much.
Mr.. Creel was introduced by General
Louis Stotesbury, who presided at the
Saturday discussions meeting, as a Re-
publican. This seemed to stun the au-
dience for few seconds.
Mr.. Creel said, among other things
that the Republican party may find that
it has dug a pit from which it cannot
extricate itself by its tactics in attack
ing the Wilson Administration. He said
that the engendering Of race hatred had
accomplished the defeat of the League
OF Nations, but all of these animosities
will have to be answered for during the
present Administration.
Admits Creel Has Courage
eve have listened to three remark
able addresses" said DR.. Van De Water,
who followed Mr.. Creel and then he
referred to the speeches made by
United States Senator Calder and DR.
9. NJ. Lamkin, director in chief of the
Federal Board of Vocational Training
and the one by Mr.. Creel.
"Mr. Creel's address," he continued
''evldenced his courage in coming to
US not in the capacity Of a Democrat
and certainly not in the capacity of a
Republican. We honor him for his
courage and ability and are grateful
to him for considerable instruction, but
we are far from being convinced tha.
his diagnosis of existing conditions is
altogether correct, or his suggestion
of nostrums for the cure are wholly
specific. The truth of the matter is
good in political administrations
The nearest We can come to it is the
greatest good for the greatest number
The grandest idealistic conception in
the world can be defeated in its
execution by the want of common
sense"
Here the audience let loose a salvo
Of cheers and laughter, and kept up
the din for minute. Resuming, DR..
Van De Water said:
"lt is largely attributable to the
want of common sense that the world
to-day is seething in discomfort and
not functioning along lines of peace
and prosperity
DR.. Van De Water followed with O
plea for old-fashioned decency, piety.
gentleness and goodness, asserting that
nothing else will lift humanity.
America in Ditch, Says Creel
Regardless Of personal opinions
Mr.. Harding is President of the United
States for the next four years." said
Mr.. Creel. "None may wish evil to
his administration without wishing
evil to the republic. People are sick
of President batting. A sense Of
shame, due to the treatment Of Mr.
Wilson, is going to assure the new
Chief Executive fair chance for the
exposition and trial Of his policies
Democratic Senator'S who think to pick
up the megaphones of Lodge and
Moses will do so at their peril. AT
the present time America is off the
high road and in the ditch We are
going to get out Of the ditch, as q
matter of course, but not by virtue
of any slogan or tradition"
The fight on the League Of Nation.
was fought by restoring the hypher
and playing on every racial hatred
Mr.. Creel said, so that now, instead ol
unity, there is disintegration. The at.
tack lost for this nation the love oil
the other nations Of the world, Mr.
Creel asserted. Before 1924 has beer
reached the victory of 1920 may prove
to be the Republican partys most dis
astrous defeat. The racial problems