The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-12
Harding Says U. s. win
Have No Part" in Ex-
i,ting League.
(The full text Of PreI-
dent Harding's first mes
sage to congress is print
ed on page 9.)

Washington, April 12.-(Associat-
ed Press.)-Following a custom
inaugurated by George Washington,
abandoned by Thomas Jefferson and
revived by Woodrow Wilson, Pres
ident Harding delivered his first
message to congress today in per-
son. The two houses assembled In
joint session In the house chamber
to hear the executive outline his
views.
President Harding's declaration
in his first message to congress to-
day that the United States would,
have no part in the present League
Of Nations was received with q,
great demonstration. Republican
members of the senate and house
who, with members Of the cabinet.
crowded the house chamber to hear
the president deliver his message.
! in person, applauded vigorously.
The demonstration quickly grew
into cheering. the Republican
members standing.
The galleries Joined in the dem
onstration and it was some minutes
before quiet was restored.
Democrats Silent
The Democratic members, many
| with stolid faces and folded arms,
did not Join in the demonstration.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska,
who led the long fight in the SEN
ate in favor OF the league smiled
broadly, however.
Frequent applause from the Re-
publican side interrupted other
portions Of the presidents state
mentn on the league. Peace by
congressional resolution also met
with demonstrations of approval
but there was no applause for the
suggestion that the peace terms
of the treaty of Versailles be rati-
fled with safeguarding reservations.
The presidents address contained
about $500 words and IS minutes
were required for it's reading. His
concluding statement regarding tho
peace and the league, was delivered
slowly and with solemn emphises.
The audience rose and cheered a.
the president finished, tucked his
nose glasses in his pocket and
shook hands with Vice President
Coolidge and Speaker Gillett.
| Abstract OF Message.
| Washington, April 12.-President
Harding's principal recommends
tions to congress in his first annual
address delivered today included
the following:
| FOREIGN RELATIONS.
No separate peace with Germany
ION the assumption alone that this
would be adequate"
"The wiser course would seem to
be to engage under the ex-'
listing treaty assuming OF course.
that this can be satisfactorily ac-
complished by such explicit reser-
vations and notifications as will
secure absolute freedom of mad
visable commitments and safe
guard all our essential interests.
!. No helpful society Of ma
tions can be founded on justice and
committed to peace until the cove
nants reestablishing peace are seal
ed by the nations which were at
war"
TAXATION.
| Readjustment of internal taxes
and revision or repeal 'of those
taxes which have become unpro-
ductive and are so artificial and
burdensome as to defeat their own
} purpose.
. TARIFF.
/ Instant tariff enactment, "emerg-
ency in character and understood
by our people that it is for the
emergency only"
RAILROADS.
Efficient operation "at a cost
within that which the tariff can
bear. :. . Railway rates and
costs of operation must be reduced
|. The remaining obstacles
which are the heritance of capital.
Continued on Page Fifteen.)