Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-31
Thousands Applaud Ad-
dress In Arlington
- So - W.
Says We Have Proven
Can Have Less of
Armament Should
Strive to Ban War
But If 1t Com e.
Again America Will
Draft Every Re-
source for Nations
Preservation -'

washington, May Outstanding In
Arlington Memorial Amphitheatre
and facing the wooded slopes where
rest thousands Of the war dead or the
ration. President Harding today ut.
tered a prayer that the United States
do its full part toward making war
unlikely il not impossible" -'s-I
we have already proven that we
can have less Of armament. the
President declared. Let us strive for
the assurance that we shall have none
Of war;" -
Scarcely haa the applause from
those assembled in the great national
cemetery for the annual Memorial
Day exercises died away when the
Chief Executive coupled with his
prayer the hope that should war
again come to America 1--WE will not
alone call to service the youth Of the
land but we will draft every
resource, every activity, all of wealth
and make common cause Of the ma
tons preservation" E
Several minutes passed before the
applause which greeted this pro-
nouncement allowed Mr.. Harding to
continue and then he asserted:
1T will be more grateful nation
which consecrates all to a common
cause. and there will be more to share
the gratitude bestowed. More, there
will be finer conscience in our war
commitments and that sublimity OF
spirit which makes q people inyinc.
ible."
The prayer and the hope were the
high points in the Presidents address,
delivered at exercises which in their
lmpressiveness and spirit had q
similarity to ceremonies today in
many parts Of the land. The Presi-
Gent was accompanied to Arlington
by Mrs. Harding who sat in q box to
his left during the exercises. Gath
cred in the marble amphitheatre were
a scattering of survivors of the Civil
War. hundreds of veterans Of the wa.
with Spain, and many more Of those
who participated in the World War,
including their commander in chief,
General Pershing.
Tho setting was as impressive as
the exercises. The amphitheatre was
draped in flags and the hills of Ar
llngtno under an overcast sky were-in
the deep green Of spring. Just out.
side the amphitheatre the tomb OF the
unknown soldier was buried beneath
mound Of flowers. and the Presi-
dent. before returning to the White
House. placed wreath upon It and
stood for minute at salute.
Mrs. Harding visited the cemetery
an hour before the exercises in the
amphitheatre and at services held
under the auspices of the disable
american veterans assisted in the
planting of an American elm. turn
ing over the earth around the tree
with trench shovel which had been
used In France. At the request of
been given Of this ceremony and only
few were present.
The President in voicing the prayer
that the United States do it's part 10
make war impossible recalled.hov
two years ago he had stood "at Ao-
bcken pier among 5000 dead in .tkkir
flag draped collins" There wis
death in wars unheeding allotment.
corridors of sorrow and sacrifice so
far as the eye could see and grief
that no human sould could appraise,"
he said. and added: r.
Under the spell Of the great cor
row which gripped my heart. I. SAID
then and repeat now. 1t must not be
again. 1t must not be again."
Amplifying the prayer with a Dec.
laration which many interpreted as
referring to the proposal for Amer
kan membership in the world court,
he said:
II believe it OF be God -given duty
to give of our influence to establish
the ways Of peace throughout the
world. We cannot guarantee, hut we
can promote the peaceful adjustment
OF disputes. we can aid in the estab-
lishment of the agencies Of peace we
can be influential in committing. the
world to the triumphs Of peace and
make hateful to humankind the
spoils Of war;"
President Harding said in part: p,
I'VE must do the things which ma
ticnal thinking leads US to believe will
tend to render war less likely" tho
President said. III we ever have the
insanity to make conflict among bur-
selves we shall deserve to sacrifice.
But that must never be. Searching
our own souls, believing in our own
good intent. we can see no cloud ON
the horizon. We are thinking of no
war for us, anywhere. But there
was no cloud for us in 1914 and yet
we were drawn into the cataclysm Of
al! wars. r-ss,,-
1T is not enough to seek assurance
for ourselves. believe it a God.giv.
en- duty to give of our influence to
establish the ways Of peace through
out the world. We cannot guaran.
tee. but we can promote the peaceful
adjustment Of the disputes. We can
aid in the establishment of the agen1
cies of peace. we can be influential
in committing tn eworld to the. tri-
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