The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-24
KEYNOTE is GIVEN


Continued from Page One)
brought understanding and assurances
for peace.
Defamation of the invitation to the
Genoa conference also was commend
ed by Mr.. Watson who said it was a
political and not an economic confer
ence.
THE world by this time ought to
understand, he continued, that we
do not intend to become involved in
the political wrangles and that we are
willing to lend aid or give counsel and
maintain always a sympathetic atti-
tude, yet we will refuse to be dragged
into their financial difficulties and we
always will decline to NEEDLE with
their national affairs or to become
involved in their age old rivalries.
We do not intend to get into this
confused tumble of European animosi-
ties. This attitude of the administra-
ton meets with the hearty approval of
everybody except internationalists of a
most extreme type"
Harding Accompanies His Aim.
In domestic affairs. Senator Wat
son said. the Harding administration
stood Tor full freedom in business
and a recognition of the larger right
of the individual to control and oper-
ate his own business affairs
THE new freedom preached by
Woodrow Wilson was a grotesque
travesty on the very name he added,
while the enfranchisement of BUSH
ness under Harding is an accom-
plished fact.
Notwithstanding the near ap
proach to collapse of the monetary
system of nearly every country in Eu-
rope" he continued, I'VE have bal
anced our budget, we are living within
our income. we have issued no bonds
and sold no treasury certificates, we
have paid off S1.00O,0OO,OOO of the
public debt. we have reduced taxation
S525. 100000 more the second year,
we have curtailed governmental ex-
penses $1,000, 100000 and are today
financially solvent and commercially
sound and on the upgrade toward
normal resumption of American pros
perity-"
Citing the new charges from the
war, Senator Watson said there could
not be any great reduction in taxes
for a decade or more. but he contend
ed the Republican party had kept its
platform pledge to reduce taxes as far
as possible consistent with govern
ment needs. This in part was posi-
BILE, he said, by dismissal of more than
100000 government employees in the
last two years Incidentally discuss
ing civil service, Senator Watson said
he stood for it as applied to many
government activities. but he declared
II should not be used to shelter men
opposed to the policy of the admins
overthrow it"
A Bonus Is Assured.
''They have not been getting rid of
Democrats in some of the departments
fast enough to suit me- he added Il
have been and am opposed to putting
postmasters under civil service"
The pending tariff bill, which he
helped draft, was a prominent subject
of Senator Watson's address. 1t
would do much, he said, to restore
business and prosperity. Protection,
he added. had been a proven policy.
This tariff" he added. lis not be-
ing made TO please free traders. We
did not formulate il to suit import
ers."
The Fordney emergency tariff law.
the senator asserted, had saved the
wool and sheep industry and
been of immense value to the dairy
interests and to the great
benefit of the farmer
Soldier bonus legislation is insured
before the close of the present ses-
sion.'' according to Senator Watson,
who declared it would involve no ad-
ditionaI taxation. and finally would be
paid by the use of the bonds OF our
nations"
Reduction in railroad rates ana
wages must come. Senator Watson
said. together with financial mainte-
nance OF the carriers, but he declared
that railroad wages should not and
would not return to pre-war levels.
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