Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-07-02
THE EXECUTIVE
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4 GAIN and again Senator Hard.
- ing before he became presi.
dent and after he was elected dwell
enaphatically on the evil which re-
suited from a president telling con-
gress what they should do and not
do. In his farewell address to the
senate after his election he made
this theme prominent, and pledged
himself to take the advice OF con-
gress instead of giving congress
advice as. to the legislation they
should pass or not pass. Leglsla-
tive independence Of the executive
was a very precious principle with
him. He was going to strictly fol-
low the ideas of the founders OF
the republic as expressed in the
constitution and avoid the bad ex-
ample set by Theodore Roosevelt
and Woodrow Wilson in this re-
spect. Alas how he has fallen from
his ideals in the face OF the con-
fusion and apparent inability OF
congress to get anywhere. He
started in by telling Senator Knox
not to press his peace resolution
because it would be embarrassing
to him at that time. Then he told
the naval committee that they
should add a hundred million to
the naval appropriation bill and ne
sent the same advice to the house
committee with respect to the size
of the army and the amount OF the
army appropriation. They did not
heed his advice and he has just
signed the bill reducing the army
but made public his opinion that 1t
NAV not be possible to follow Its
provisions strictly and he may have
to ask for more money later tor
the army. He opposed the borah
amendment to the naval bill. but
later withdrew his opposition,
which was based on the idea that
il was an infringement on the pre-
negatives of the executive. In tact
President Harding has found 1t
necessary to step out and do just
what he condemned Wilson for DO
ing, and assert himself as chietiot
his party as we'll as president OF
the United States. 1t was time.
The New York Times thus de-
scribes the feeling at Washington.
Everybody who spends any time
at Washington comes away with
reports Of great uneasiness on the
part of Republican leaders in and
out of congress. The party hon
eymoon is now. over. The little
rniseries of married life have be-
gun. Certain incompatibilities OF
have developed. The
family is not that hap
by, harmonious whole to which the
rosy optimists looked forward.
Sharp differences have developed.
The managers are worried over the
series of deadlocks and the fact
that promises of speedy and ef-
fective legislation are already so
long overdue. Behind every mem
Der of the cabinet and each would
be director of party policy black
care is riding. IF one went to
Washington merely to find Repub-
|ican gloom, he could easily dis
cover it on every side thick enough |
TO cut with a knife"
David Lawrence, the we'll known
special correspondent and news
PAPER writer, at the national capital
.hus describes the change in White
House policies: "President Hard
ng has found it necessary to apply
he executive accelerator to con-
press. He has been reluctant to
follow in the footsteps Of other
who drove congress with
/ firm hand, and he has resented
he suggestion that he should die
ate to both houses. But, after a
apse of two months and half, it
,as become apparent that the extra
'ession Of congress will be fruit
ess unles sthe executive forgets
lis oft-expressed ideas about the
complete separation of the func-
ions Of the executive and legisla-
i've branches of the government
md accept the role of party leader,
which made it possible for Presi-
tents Roosevelt and Wilson to get
'esults in congress, and which Pres
dent Taft subsequently admitted
hat he, too, should have done early
n his administration. The situa-
ion today is strikingly parallel to
hat which existed a few months
lfter Mr.. Taft was inaugurated.
-onpress was then led nv Messrs