Evening star., 1922-02-12
Places Party and Policies
Above Individual, He Tells
Republican Club League.
WOULD HAVE MORE
OF lINc0LN's SPIRIT
Wants to See More Women in Pub
Lie Life-Hundreds Attend
Big Banquet.

night at the Lincoln day banquet OF
the League Of Republican State Clubs
of the District Of Columbia declared
that he craved for the return of in
telligent conventions as the means Of
electing men to public Office.
The President was extolling the
republican party and the great
service it has performed In the ad-
vancement Of the republic since the
days of Lincoln when he made this
significant utterance, which left no
doubt in the minds Of the more than
six hundred men and women as
sembled in the Willard banquet hall
that the chief executive is a genuine
partisan and that he places his party
and its beliefs and policies above
those Of any individual, even his
own.
II would rather have men seeking
Office appeal for support on their
party's platform and policies than as
one who appeals ah an individual. be-
cause of his own ideas and policies"
President Harding said Immediately
ton OF public servants by means of
the old-time convention.
Extols Lincoln.
Lincoln was a party man." he con-
tinued. Lincoln was an out-and-out
partisan and no better or greater re-
publican ever lived and no greater or
better President ever served our re-
public. Lincoln believed in his party
and I, too, believe in that party as it
is today. If could express one out
standing wish tonight while we are
assembled to commemorate the
memory Of that colossal statesman, 1t
would be that we would have more
OF the ,spirit Of Lincoln and the party
of Lincoln than We have now.
IT believe in collective vision. in the
wisdom Of q convention-the dictum OF
the party to serve. It has been proven
that party principles are high and that
its aim is for the advancement Of the
nation. In my estimation, no party
service is worth while that in the end
is not Of the highest. II did not believe
with all my heart in my party and its
policies-if the latter were not good-I
would seek quickly to alter that policy.
Tribute to Women.
The President then paid a tribute
to the part women have played in the
party since obtaining the right to
vote, and in doing so he smiled down
at Mrs. Harding. who sat beside him.
He said he wished to call attention
to the fact that in being with him
Mrs. Harding had the distinction of
being the first mistress of the White
House to be seated at a republican
party banquet
II hope there will be more women
in public life, and there will be be-
fore my administration is concluded"
he said.
In acknowledging the great ap-
plause that greeted him as he arose.
to speak, President Harding stated
that he was deeply interested in re-
publican organizations and was in
favor of everything that tended to
promote party activity and spirit.
81 cannot forget" he said. that
first acquired the trust Of my party
before was given the trust Of the
people Of the nation. Well do I know
that it was not I, the individual, who
won the election in November, 1920.
It was the party of Lincoln, of Nc
Klnley and Roosevelt that was re-
turned to power by the will of the
people"
Utterances Cheered.
During his references to the re-
publican party and his belief in that
party, his utterances were repeatedly
and loudly cheered. There was no
mistaking the fact that the President
had struck a pleasing and happy tone.
Turning from the subject of the party,
he stated that America was the only
truly representative government in
the world. 'It is not because we have
outstepped all the other people OF the
world, nor because Of our personality,
nor because Of our racial Inheritance.
'That we are the most representa-
tive nation, my countrymen. must be
because of the foundation upon which
our republic was built. That founda-
ton was solid and we have developed
it by the instrument of political
parties. which in my opinion is a con-
tribution to human achievement.
you must not become discouraged
by the happenings of the moment.
Do not forget how things came to
that master martyr, Lincoln. He
faced many discouragements and dis
tressing situations. He drank from
as bitter a cup as ever. touched the
lips OF any human being. His faith
was unaffected and his courage un-
daunted. Above 1t all he rose to
great heights and wrote the supreme
chapter in the history of this great
republic. He was the master states
man OF his time and it is Joy and a
privilege to be with you my fellow
republicans in paying tribute to his
memory.
..In conclusion I want to say that
wish you would resolve to give the best
that Ii In you and let us maintain the
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