Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-03-09
HARDING AT HOME AND Will.
SON ABROAD


treaties agreed upon at the Arma-
ment Conference President Harding
occupied position much stronger
than that occupied by President
Wilson when he presented the treaty
agreed upon at Versailles" declares
the Republican Publicity Asssosciat-
ion, through its President, Hon jon
athan Bourne, Jr. "Mr. Harding was
in position to argue that the honor
of the country required the ratificat-
ion of such a claim in behalf OF
the treaty of peace with its league
of nations encumbrance, but the
plea gained no credence anywhere.
"The difference between the two
situations is clear. President Wilson
went to Paris practically alone. He
took with him a few subordinates,
but he neither counseled with them
nor received from them any sugges-
tions. They were mere clerks carry
ing information to give him if called
for. Neither directly nor indirectly
id he take the advice of the Senate
nor keep the Senate informed as to
the steps he was taking. Moreover
it having been reported that Presid-
emit Wilson extended to incorporate
n the peace treaty the league of nat
ions covenant, thirty-nine Members OF
the Senate notified him in writing
and by the adoption of resolution
that they cound not support the treaty
with such provision in it. With
that knowledge before him and before
and before the other nations re-
presented at Versaills, Pres. Wilson
continued in his determination to in
terweave the league of nations coven-
ant in the peace treaty in such away
that the whole must be accepted or
reject. He undertook to force the
Senate to give it's sanction to agree
ments with which the Senate dis
agreed.
"No such methods were pursued
by President Harding. Instead of 60
ing personally as delegate to the
Conference he appointed four of the
ablest men in the United States, two
of them members of the senate and
leaders of their respective political
parties. These four men in constant
consultation among themselves and
withhand with the President and
with members of the senate repre-
scented the interests and desires of
the United Stats government. More
over, the Senate had already, by
adoption of a resolution, declared
its desire that treaties be made pro-
viding for limitation of armament
and settling vextatious questions in
the Pacifice. Thus it will be seen
the President made the treaties with
the advice Of the Senate.
"In one other respect President
Harding's position was much stronger
than that of President Wilson. At
the same time that he submitted the
treaties to the Senate he placed be-
for that body a complete copy of the
proceedings bywhich the terms Of the
treaties were arrived at. In other
words, he placed before the Senate
all the information in his possession
bearing upon tire agreements by
which it was proposed the United
States should be bound. Not so did
President Wilson. Avast amount of
the data pertaining to the peace con-
ference at Versailles was hidden
away in what has since been called
the steel box, and only in recent
weeks have the Senate and the public
been permitted to know portion of
the contents of that box and even
at this late date only such portions
as an editor acting under the direc-
ton Of Mr.. Wilson saw fit to make
known through the columns Of a
limited number of newspapers.
President Wilson proceeded to
negotiate a treaty in violation Of
both the spirit and the letter of the
United States Constitution. Presi-
dent Harding paid due respect to
both"