Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-05-22
HARDING HAS
NO TIME FOR
SEX POLITICS
Presidents Refusal of
Invitation Is
Significant.
Special to Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM WILL

special 10 1nQlana Daliy Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
WASHINGTON. May 22.-President
Harding has taken bold and dramatic ac-
ton to demonstrate his disapproval OF
Sex organizations of women for political
purposes. To the complete surprise and
CONSERVATION of the National Woman
Party, the President at the eleventh hour
declined to attend the dedication of It's
new headquarters at the foot Of Capitol
Hill. Although Mrs. John Gordon Bat
teile, chairman Of the committee on ar
rangcmeuts was In possession OF Dir.
Hardin-'s acceptance dated Dec. 20, 1921,
she received an autographed letter from
the White House dated Saturday, Oh
serving simply that 1t would mot be pos
sible'' for the President to be present at
Sundays ceremonial. The leaders of the
National Womans Party are understood
to have had no advance inklins Of Mr..
Harding's intentions. THEY contented
themselves with issuing The text OF Sec
rotary Christians acceptance IN Mr..
Harding's name in December and the
Presidents later letter.
The Presidents views with regard TO
organizations like the National Woman 5
Party and the League Of Woman Voters
has often been proclaimed. He welcomes
heartily anything they do in the direc-
ton OF improving woman's capacity for
citizenship. But BE unquaiiaedly OPP
poses attempts TO organize the new
branch OF the electorate into sex parties
for purely sex purposes. Mr. Harding
and Mrs. Harding, too-thinks there is
the maximum opportunity for the WON
en- voters within one Of the regular ex-
listing political parties. The President
and the First Lady, being both stanch
Republicans, would rather the women
should identify themselves with the G..
o. P, but they would prefer their join
ing the Democratic party rather than re-
naming outside Of the party system al
together
PRESENTED VIEWS
IN NEW JERSEY.
Only a few days ago President Hard
ing took occasion publicly 70 voice the
views which he here gave, such an un-
expected and unusual manifestation. Adj
dressing the New Jersey Women's Club
at Atlantic City, while the week end
guest ST Senator Edge. Mr.. Harding on
the night of May L, said:
IT an genuinely glad that women
have come TO play their full part in
American politics We need you in the
United States and I am particularly glad
to come TO a meeting ike this. because
I believe with all nay ieart that women
can only play their part fully and best
when they play it IN connection with
recognized political organizations. OF
course, I have 4 preference as to which
party they should belong. but would
say with every sincerity TO any woman
Of America, IF you cannot subscribe to
the enunciated principles and policies OF
SD1 L., rtat
party outstanding views which represent
that which yeu believe to be the right.
then 60 into that party and make i be-
lieve WHIT you think to be right"
The Daily Times and Public Ledger
correspondent learns that President
HarIing was much impressed by the ar
guments against his participation in the
National Wcmans party demonstration,
which came from Mrs. Ruth Hanna Nc
Cormick. wife of Senator Medill McC9r-
mick Of Illinois. That extraordinarily
able Republican woman politician aud
leader and vigorous opponent OF sex
politics." has always urged the vxws to
which President Harding subscribed Mt
Atlantic City 1t Is believed that Sen
ator james ". WadswortA OF New York.
trusted adviser Of President Harding.
and an irreconciIable opponent OF the
erted eifectual Influence in the direction
of the action Mr. Harding has since taken.
Col. Theodore Roosevelt, assistant Sec
rotary Of the Navy, sold similar views.
OPPOSED TO
LEGISLATION.
Authorities il position TO Interpret
White House policy said President Hard
ing is particularly opposed to the
blanket legislation" national woman's
party leaders. Still another version OF
the presidents failure to keep his ap-
pointment at the foot Of Capitol Hill is
believed to be his anxiety to play fair as
between the two rival women's oryaniza-
tions-the League Of Voters and the Ma
tional Womgn's Party. Mr.. Harding de-
clined to attend the recent successful
convention of the League OF Women
Voters At Baltimore, and, apart from
other reasons, may have decided, on the
fifty fifty" principle. not to discriminate
in favor of the National Woman's Party.
His decision as far as the latest AFFAIR IS
concerned was Of the eleventh hour
character and is bound to provoke much
discussion in political circles when it be-
comes generally known tomorrow.
Members OF Congress, II can be stated
without equivccation, will approve Of
President HardiRg's demonstration
against sex organizations In American
politics. Senators and Representatives
are reticant publicly to discuss the
'.women's bloc" at Washington, but pri-
vately they exccoriate it. Many OF them
consider il an influence of unwholesome
character in national legislative affairs.
and agree with Representative Alice Rob-
ertson Of Oklahoma that, like other
blocs pursuing special interests, 1t
should be resisted by members OF Con-
gress sent to Washington to net for
the common good, irrespective Of sec
tiona1 or sex acknowledgement, 1922,
by Public Ledger Company.