The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-11-18
The Next President and His Task.

The Next President and His Task.
Senator Harding should, and we
doubt not will, observe becoming
humility toward his overwhelming
election to the presidency. 1t is not
in any sense a personal triumph. He
finds himself this morning the fortu-
nate beneficiary of set of circum-
stances almost wholly beyond his con-
trol-and, it may b. added, face to
face with as great task and as in
spring an opportunity as have ever
confronted an American president.
1t is not unfair to Mr.. Harding to
say that his was not the sort of per-
sonality uppermost in the public mind
prior to the June conventions. The
American people looked for some
great and outstanding leader to take
up the burdens which should be sur
rendered by Mr.. Wilson. Mr.. Hard
ing was not such man. He had not
been a leader. His short public rec
ord had indeed shown him to be a
conservative and usually sensible leg
islator, not without convictions and
the courage to adhere to them, but
certainly without those attributes
which shook the country he took an
and confidence. In the great divisions
(Which shook the country he took an
inconspcuous part, and after his noml-
nation he found himself first on the
ticket with a running mate better
known to the country than he was
himself.
But Mr. Harding was, as it turned
out, the one man upon whom all the
elements in his own party and in the
country gould unite in opposition to
wisconsin. He was agreeable to re-
publican conservatives; he was at least
endurable to the progressives who
could overlook much in view of their
hostility to the Wilson league; and
his record, as we'll as his subsequent
public utterances commended him to
the people generally as a safe and
sensible, if not spectacular, candi.
date. The result has been forsha.
.dowed for some months-so soon, in.
deed, as it became apparent that the
democratic convention, under the
thumb of coalition Of political
bosses, had selected a nominee whose
disqualifcations for the office became
painfully apparent the moment he
opened his mouth to address the ma
ton. Mr.. Cox was inexcusably rcck
less in his statements, openly puzzled
as to the proper attitude to assume
toward the pet project of his prede
cessor, the league of nations, anc
censpicuously lacking in the dignit,
which Americans expect of their chic
magistrate. Mr.. Harding, on the othe
hand, consistently exhibited prope
conception of the office and it's re
sponsibilities; and as between the tw'
men, the popular choice was obvious.
But Mr.. Harding will find that cleo
ton is the least difficult part Of tn
task assigned him last June. N
president within the memory of liv
ing Americans has taken up his dutie
with a more perplexing problem
ahead. Not only do tremendous ques
tons both of domestic and foreig
policy clamor for settlement, but h
finds himself at the head of as curl
Gus a body of public opinion as eve
elected a candidate 1t is not to
much to say that those who hav
chosen Mr.. Harding by so emphati
a majority agree on but one thing
opposition to Mr.. Wilson. In mat
tiers of domestic and foreign polio
they are as far apart as the pole.
The division with respect to the leagu
of nations is merely case in poin
In the ranks of those who have vote
for Mr.. Harding are men and wome
who differ fundamentally upon tina
issue. 1t falls to Mr.. Harding's lc
to form out Of all these discordar
elements working body of publ
opinion without which he can hope
accomplish very little. It would b