Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-08
MORE EXECUTIVE
y POWER IS ASKED
BY THE PRESIDENT
Address to Congress Consid-
cred One of Most Remark
able. Documents Ever Sent
to Lawmakers
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Neased Wire Service to The JOurnal.)
(CnnYripht. 1921 !

WASHINGTON. Dec. 7.-President
IIarding's address to congress is in
many respects one Of the most re-
markable documents ever sent by
the executive to the legislative
branch of the government, remark
able for the many significant cir
cumstances which have made neces-
sary an appeal for thaS solidarity of
political parties in America as we'll
as the plea for more executive pow
| err with the promise that 1t Will be
prudently exercised.
Mr.. Harding didn't mention the
Republican party nor did he make
reference to the agricultural bloc,
which threatens to become an in
| surgent movement not unlike the
famous revolt which led to the Taft
Roosevelt split in 1912.
The fact that the president de-
| voted the very beginning of his ad-
dress to a plea for party harmony
as against sectfonalism is due to
the tendency of the agricultural
west and south to unite as against
the manufacturing east, undermln-
ing the hold which Democratic as
| well as Republican leaders hither-
to have had upon their respective
followers of the same political par
| ty in congress.
| President Harding has seen coal
ition of Democrats and Republlcans
become so powerful as to force the
Republican majority to accept tax
revision bill for which MIR. Hardlng'
with characteristic frankness, now
saws he would be inslncere IL ne
accepted responsibility.
Tax Recommendations Coming.
at would suggest insincerlty',
says Mr.. Harding, III L eApresseo
comnlete accord with every express
sion recorded in your roll calls and
q sentence further the president tellS
what ia in his mind when he adds:
Later on, when other problems are
solved, I shall make some recon-
mendations about renewed conslo-
Grafton of our tax program.
This is the first public indication
| that Mr.. Harding isn't satisfied with
the tax bill which congress passed
and which he signed. There, OF
| course, is a renewed discussion OF
| a sales tax as a new method OF
taxation altogether. but Mr.. Har-
| dine's address to congress Is the
outgrowth of executive disrontent
which has been known on the IN
side for several weeks and winch
has Just come to a head in his mes
sage.
The president feels deeply on the
subject of the agricultural bloc"
and the way it exerted its lnf1u-
ence in the making of the tax bill
and here is his rebuke:
at believe the political party in
mower should assume responsibility.
| determine upon policies in the con-
ference which supplements conven.
lions and election campaigns, and
then strive for achievement through
adherence to the accented policy"
Doctrine of Wilson
This\ was the doctrine of Wood
| row Wilson. too. except that the lat
ter believed in the function OF the
elected president as the party leader
and initiator of party policies.
| view which Mr.. Harding also shows
signs of accepting.
| The president made it~clear that
he had no desire to encroach upon
the legislative branch Of the gov
eminent or to dictate" to con-
gress, but his message contains the
| following requests for more author
ity and power to the executive than
4 is now possessed:
First, the right to negotiate with
foreign governments concerning the
funding of war debts. Mr.. Harding
promises that he will submit the
agreement reached to congress. but
must not be hindered by congress
during the negotiations.
Second, the right to ignore those
provisions of the merchant marine
act of 1920 passed by a previous
Republican congress which requires
the United States to denounce GER
tain treaties that conflict with the
authority of our government to
grant reduced duties on imports
carried to our shores in vessels fly.
ing the American flag.
Third. the right of the executive
to handle the permanent" tariff
law when it is passed so that raes
may be adjusted "to meet unusual
and changing conditions which can
not be accurately anticipated"
Controversy Certain
Unqrestionably there will be a,
controversy over each one of these
requests. Already congress has
shown tendeocy to balk at the
grant of power in the first case. Con-
tention over the second has been
going on for several n,-nths. The
attitude of congress on the third
point has not vet crystallized,
though the advocates of high pro-
lection see in it a menace to the
permanence of the rates which may
be granted them.
The whole thing will afford a test
of Mr.. Harding's influence with
congress. His political friends are
predicting that he will win out be-
l cause they say that as the congress
| sional elections approach--they will
be held next November-the tenden-
cy Of members will be to fall back
on party lines and the support Of
Republican executive in seeking
| denomination or reelection. On the
other hand. the agricultural group
| keeps talking about supporting Re-
publicans and Democrats irrespec-
tive of party lines provided the agra
rian idea Of legislation is in the
candidates platform.
Aside from the purely political
phases of Mr.. Harding's address, the
statement that mo permanent re-
adjustments can be effected with
out consideration OF our measurable
relationship to world affairs in fl
nance and trade. attracted most
attention by those who studied the
| text of the document.
Mr.. Harding struck boldly at