Evening star., 1921-01-23
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.


termining the policies of his admin
istration on vital issues, Congress as
representing the people of the coun-
try is pretty well satisfied that dur
ing the Harding regime it is to be a
government not only with the consent
of the governed. but with the best
counsel of the governed.
The leaders in Congress who have
been in conference with Mr.. Harding
have come back thoroughly convinced
that during the next four years the
executive and legislative branches of
the government are to cooperate as
never before in the nations history in
the solution of the most gigantic
problems that ever engaged the minds
of the nations elected representa-
tives.
as Senator's Smoot, who advised re-
garding appropriations and reorgani-
cation of government establishments;
New, who is Mr.. Harding's next
friend. and ealked about general poll
cies; Knox, who specialized on for
eign relations: Curtis, appropriations;
Wadsworth. on military affairs and
reorganization; House Leader Mon
dell. on House cooperation and re-
garding the special session, and a
general economy program; Chairman
Good of the appropriations and budget
committees. on the economy program
and especially budget legislation: Repre-
sentative Kahn, on Pacific coast prob
lens; Representatives Anthony and
Tilson. on military appropriations and
policy; Representatives >Fordney.
Longworth, and Bachrach. on tariff
problems. They are unanimous in
saying that Mr.. Harding invites and
welcomes advice, il seeking the best
advice he can get, and shows a dis
position to act not on each bit of ad-
vice, but on what seems best with all
the facts and opinion before him.
Harding . Good Listener.
81 found Harding a good listener"
says House Leader Mondell. and that
expresses the consensus Of opinion
that he il eager to listen to the rep
resentatives Of the people. An Illus
tration Of how Mr.. Harding is search
ing out what seems tho best advice Is
shown in his invitation to Represent
ative j. Q. Tilson Of Connecttcat who
is not now a member Of the military
affairs committee. and who never was.
chairman, but who Is considered 70
be the best informed civilian on mtli-
tary matters. Tilson has been a stu
dent of the subject for twenty years.
he has seen service in the Spanish
American war and on the Mexican
border, he has an intimate knowledge
of the manufacture of munitions ano
during the war gave a series OF talks
to his colleagues on various phases
of national defense and munitions.
Confidence that the big problems
facing the next administration will
be solved by common council between
Mr.. Harding and Congress is felt gen.
orally on Capitol Hill. Those who
have been called to Marion say
.Harding has less of the pride of
opinion than any other man in pub
lie life" They explain that this does
not imply that he is colorless. but
that counsel is his chief trait and de-
cuicn his prerogatiye. Like Lincoln,
they say. his habit is Come. let US
.>.xon IN this oueStfon."
The congressional visitors were par
ticularly impressed with the charac-
teristic quality of his mind as shown
in the ease with which he relies upon
the dictum 'In the multitude OF coun-
Gil there is safety" This trait makes
him approachable. None of those
who visited him in Marion hesitated
to suSgest to him what seemed a
proper course in a given case. He let
it be fiatly understood that he would
freely hear any proper suggestion
without either being himself embar-
rassed or suggesting an embarrass-
ing situation for the adviser.
Determined Selection at Chicago.
These qualities, not as well. known
to the country at first, were the de-
termining factors in the Chicago con-
yention. Ever since election day most
of Mr.. Harding's time has been given
over to consultation. The small town
of Marion has become the chamber OF
consultation, toward which have gone
the best thought and brains of the
country. representing the two major
political parties. Some of these con-
ferences had to do with cabinet Sc
lections-a matter heretofore looked
upon as primarily personal. to be left
entirely to the President.
Mr.. Harding has from the outset
allowed the country into his secret
to surround himself with the best
brains in America Just how much
the public will have to do with the
selection of the official family remains
10 be seen, but those who have con-
ferred with him feel sure that Mr..
Harding wants to let the country
! now the processes by which he is
making the selection for the best in
terests Of the country.
There is small doubt. they say. that
after all is said and done the cabinet
in its personnel will be a Harding
cabinet. determined by his own de-
cision.
Congress. rejecting the public feel
ing, Is well pleased to note the as
sured cooperation between the ex-
ecutive department headed by Mr..