Evening star., 1921-05-10
THE PRESIDENT
| AND THE CAPITAL
For Us He Is "Three Gentle
men at Once"-PreSident
Harding, Gov. Harding,
Mayor Harding.
THE IDEAL PRESIDENT
Editorial Correspondence of The Star.
THEODORE w. MOVES.

| Columbia) have been not only to Wash
ingtonians Presidents. but governors OF
! the District and mayors of the city OF
| Washington. And to US of the District
the President is, like Mrs. Malaprop's
wit: President Harding. Gov. Harding
and Mayor Harding.
How faithfully has each successive
| trict performed his diversified func-
tions? A study Of the Presidents in
| their relation to the capital shows that
! every one since Washington. with the
exception of President Wilson, has as
the minimum of consideration expressed
tion sympathetic patriotic interest in
the capital and its people. And many
Of them have urged personally and put
| in operation practical measures Of mate
rial upbuilding or artistic adornment of
the capital.
President Wilson. who broke so many
precedents. specialized in his messages.
| dealing only with the most important of
| national and international topics, over
looking the District.
President Harding has. as senator,
lived for years in the nations city. He
has legislated for it on municipal and
national lines. He has mingled with its
people, democratically, interestedly and
| them. and has spoken ,helpfully at their
| meetings, organizing for service to pro-
| mote the local and national welfare.
He qualities as good Washingtonian
as we'll as a good American. The capi-
| tai community is confident of the new
Presidents sympathetic interest in the
welfare Of the people Of the nations S
city. and Of practical, effective labors
by him to promote its upbuilding and
material development.
Financial Equity for Warrington.
The presidential thoughts concern
ing Washington embodied in presi-
Dental messages not only consti-
tute an interesting record of what
has been done, but a treasury and
arsenal Of facts. figures and opinions
OF value IT reaching a wise conclu-
sion as to what should be done to de-
Ntlop and promote the welfare of
the capital. For instance from the
time of Washington. Adams, Jeffer-
son and Monro. sidelights arc thrown
on the circumstances surrounding
the creation of the capital by the
nation. the responsibility Of the na-
ton for its city and the financial re-
lations of the nation and capital in
in discussion Of the wise disposition
CT the capitals land endowment;
t5en. in Jackson's tipnc In connection
win the ciky's benkruptcysof OF "a 83S.
In the attempt OF the people 81 the
city to perform unaided ths nations
under Grant and Hayes, In the wise re-
adjustments created by the acts OF
1874 and 1923 (see Senator Southard's 3
report In Jackson's administration and
in connection with Jackson's sympa-
thetic reference to the city's financial
condition and needs).
Concerning Washington as the site
national educational center Of the re-
public. George Washington in his
messages, as well as in his letters AMI
his will. Jefferson and Madison in
messages, Monroe in his letter COM
mendins ns Columbian College. John
have put themselves vigorously on
record.
A few other recommendations for
the material welfare Of the District
arc distributed as follows among the
Presidents; Jaii-Je1erson. Roosevelt.
(1ss5j, Buchanan (1sss), Cleveland
I1sss. 1882; Potomac bridge
more (1s6z). Cleveland 1856. Nc
Kp1sy sis reis isss sl's 1ss, 1:ss
Pierce (1s5s). Hayes (1sso). Insane
asylum-Tyler (1S43). Pierce (1s53).
Police-Tyler (184D. Reclamation Of
Potomac fiats-Hayes (1s77 to 1880.
Public improvements, streets. public
grounds. canals, ete:-Monroe ds24).
Charitable observation-disclosures (1852).
Lincoln (1ss3-4). Hayes us7s). Board OF
charities-Hayes (1377). Railroads in
Washington-Lincoln t1ssD. Hayes
t1s7s?. Arthur ussl): New District
1850. Liquor laws-cleveland Gss5
to 1880, Harrison 1ss9 to 1922.
Sewerage commission - Harris o n
(1889). National Capital centennial
Mckinley 1Sss. 1899. 1900. Social
and economic legislation-Roosev
Taft Park extension-Taft.
President and People Of washinEton.
The Presidents have not neglected
national city. with its streets, parka,
buildings and monuments. or Of the
people composing the real city. the
National Capital community. And in
, thinking wisely and sympathetically
concerning this community they have
planned to meet not only the peoples
moral and intellectual needs, but to
ests permit their political rights as
American citizens. 1t Is only Of late
years that the monstrous doctrine is
propounded that the national interest
requires that half million or a mil
lion OF Americans at the seat of gov
canized. remaining perpetual aliens 30
far as representation in the legisla-
tive and executive branches of gov
ernment IL concerned. and less than
aliens (the Supreme Court has said)
in their relation to tho judicial
branch, OF the national government.
Concerning the government Of tho
District and the political tights Of
1850. van Buren,. william Henry
Harrison (1s4D. Johnson (1s6sj.
Grant (1s71. 1872. 1873. 1870. Hayes
(1s77 to 1880. inclusive). Cleveland
! concerning police reeuiations) 1856.
R9Sss5e rspor 1905 .na Taft n s.yne,ss Spposi
ton to local franchise). 1912. In the
| same connection are to be considered
the local referendum vote under Bu-
chanan GS5S). and Johnson's veto
| message uS66), discussing tho right
of the people Of the capital to cast
respected by Congress-.
Cordial and Reciprocal Regard.
Summarizing, tho relations between
Presidents and Washingtonians have
been cordial and marked by recipro-
cal regard. The President, though
not . part Of the municipal corpora
| ton which directly manages local execu-
ttye ooncerns. 70, ~ the appointive power
Of the official heads of this corpora
ton and through his veto, an impor-
tant factor in the exclusive legisla-
tive power Of Congress in respect to
President are coupled with 6d4G
| and responsibilities and In Aa1E o6-
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