The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-03-09
HARDING CONCEIVED
ARMAMENT LIMITATION
DURING 1920 CAMPAIGN
W
Enunciated the Idea In Speech of
Acceptance at Marion July
22nd, 1920.


that the congratulations of the world
are pouring in on President Harding
for having sponsored the first sue
cessful international conference in
the worlds history which led to the
worlds navel powers agreeing to stop
armament competition and end tax.
burdening race for naval supremacy
the question was asekd: "When was
the idea of the great Washington con-
ference conceived?"
The record always is the best evil
dence. Just how long Mr.. Harding
had the great idea in mind can only
be told by him and he has refrained
from discussing that point. How
ever, it is established by the writtea
and printed record that Mr.. Harding
had a vision of the Washington con-
ference long before he came to the
White House.
Indeed, Mr.. Harding, in his very
first public utterance after he had
been nominated for the Presidency at
the Chicago convention, declared bold
ly for larger reduction ornaments,
expressed the wish that America set
the example and give the leadership
for such notable undertaking.
Here are his words-uttered in his
speech of acceptance delivered at
Marion, Ohio, July %, 1920, less than
four months before his election to the
Presidency and little more than seven
months before he came to the White
House:
81 can hear in the call of con-
science an insistent voice for the
largely reduced ornaments through
out the world with attending reduct-
ion Of burdens of peace-loving
humanity. We wish to give of Amer
lean influence and example; we must
give of American leadership in that
invaluable accomplishment"
The fact that Mr.. Harding, as a
candidate for the Presidency, had in
mind the great Washington confer.
ence which has just come to a re-
markable conclusion, may have been
lost sight Of in the stress of political
campaign, but not by the man who
conceived it. His hope for largely
reduced ornaments" voiced in his
speech of acceptance, was repeated a
moment after he had taken the oath
of office. In delivering his inaugural
address, he did not forget the promise
he gave as a candidate. And once he
entered the White House he began
consulting with other naval powers to
the end that he could issue call for
the Washington conference the mo-
ment the world opinion was such as
to give assurance of its success.
Within a short time after Mr.. Har-
ding became President, he issued his
historical call for the Washington
gathering conceded to have
been the greatest international con-
ference, in results obtained, in the
history of the world-and within 8
months that conference had begun its
deliberations. The dream of centur-
les has been realized within ninety
days. The world cheers the achieve
ments of this noble gathering. Pres
ident Harding, within less than a
year of his taking office, has won his
place in world history.
Those who were privileged to gath
err at Marion, Ohio, on the hot sum-
mer day in July, 1920, when he pub
licly proclaimed his determination, if
he came into American leadership, to
"give of American influence, exam
pie and leadership" will long boast
of having been present when the fu-
ture President made known what then
appeared to be dream he entertain
ed for pointing the way to reduced
ornaments, not by America alone,
but by mutual agreement of all naval
powers of the world.
| President Harding takes no credit
to himself. The accomplishments
were so great, he says, that there is
glory enough for all-for all Ameri-
cans and for the people of foreign
powers who cooperated to bring them
about. He is proud of Hughes and
Root and Lodge and Underwood, who,
by his appointment, served as the
American delegates and he has pub
licly expressed his deep gratitude for
the conspicuous service they rendered
in the conference He acclaims them
as Americans who have rendered dis
tinguished service and entitled to
great praise.
1t was no idle campaign promise
that Mr.. Harding made in what now