The New York herald., 1921-04-13
WEDNESDAY. APRIL IS. 1921.
President Harding's Message.

Taken by and all President HAR-
DING's long message to Congress Is
good. In respect of several cardinal
issues, national and international, 1t
is particularly good, notably his COM
plete rejection of the League Of Ma
tions, his demand for national econ
on and rational taxation, his treat
men, of the railroad and shipping
questions and his commitment to early
treaties with the Central Powers.
When the President says that the
national expenditures are unbearable
1t ought TO rean that II Congress
does not cut out all squander and
waste that can be reached by the ap-
propriating power his veto knife will.
When he says that the Treasury
should be kept in funds with tax
schedules that will provide the needed
revenue without strangling industry
and harassing business 1t ought to
mean that the Congress leaders who
have discussed these serious matters
with him are prepared to hasten the
legislation he urges.
When the President says that rail-
road operat ting costs must come down
so that the transportation rates can
come down and the country's products
move to market, 1t ought to mean that
this very thing will soon happen, for
the whole matter really lies with the
United States Railroad Labor Bureau,
certainly under his influence and
guidance If not under his absolute
power. And when he says that Amer
lean shipping should compete In mari
time commerce the world over II to
achieve this end 1t becomes necessary
to change our straitjacket laws and
eliminate other restrictions against
a live and successful merchant ma
rine, 1t ought to mean that Congress
Is going to back him up with the
repeal or amendment Of the notorious
La Toilette statutes, for as long as
they are In existence American over
seas shipping can be bound only for
the junk heap.
II 1t seems to economic students
and other careful thinkers that the
President hopes for too much when
he expects industry and business to
revive merely by n tightening of the
nations tax burdens, they can agree
that this will be great help when
the fundamental trouble Is corrected
inflated production costs, caused by
inflated labor costs. If he seems to
lay too much stress on various minor
points in his steering away from this
fundamental issue Of hard work and
honest work for days wages at a
reasonable rate of pay to permit the
public to buy its necessaries OF life
with 100 cent dollar rather than
go or 20 or so cent dollar, he Is to
be warmly indorsed for his great
common sense which sometimes indi-
Gates more than he Is willing to say
In so many words.
And II would be poor recognition
indeed of President HARDrNG's very
splendid Americanism not to quote
from his fine words on the nations
foreign policy and relations at least
as much as the following:
Tn the existing League Of Nations.
world governing. with its super
powers. this Republic will have no
part. There can be no misunder-
standing. and there will be no be-
trayal OF the deliberate expression OF
the American people In the recent
election: and, settled In our decision
for ourselves, II is only fair TO say
TO the world In general. and to our
associates in war in particular, that
the League government can have no
sanction by US
'In rejecting the League covenant
ana uttcring that rejection to our
own people and to the world, we
make no surrender OF our hopes and
aim for an association to promote
peace. We wish It to be conceived
in peace and dedicated TO peace"
President HARDINo will make a very
strong impression on Congress and
the nation with his message