Evening star., 1921-12-11
BY n. o. MESSENGER.

@RESIDENT HARDING has not
u been so engrossed with the
affairs Of nine of the nations
of the earth. presented by
their ENJOYS in conference here. that
comprehensive survey Of domestic
conditions to present TO Congress.
upon it's reconvening for the regular
session, which was in one respect
notable affair.
There was the picture of the am
bassadors and ministers of these con-
ference-attending countries, with
those of other countries as well; the
high-class journalistic writers of all
lands where the printing press whirs'
with the American lawmakers ana
the executive administrators OF the
American government gathered IN
one hall, to hear the President make
his recommendations
Europe, Asia and the two Americas
virtually touched elbows as 1he
visitors sat below the rostrum from
which the President addressed them
Congress- came back" with a rush
and resumed its place on the front
page of the great daily newspapers
from which it had been crowded for
a while by the overShadowing arms
conference. The Presidents message
attracted widespread attention, judg-
ing from the display given it in the
leading journals of the country. Well,
he talked about things that the peo-
pie are interested in and which they
had all the time in the back OF their
minds. even while their eyes were
focused for the time upon the fasci-
,atjns international conference and
us interesting figures.
--uw the country may be expected
to resume consideration of home is
sues, after trifling with the foreign
dishes set by the arms conference.
x + x =
President Harding disclosed in his
address the fact that he has kept
constantly in touch with domestic
questions and his comment upon them
was in line with his characteristic
mental process of dealing with big
problems matter-of-fact. business
like, safe and sane. And yet he did
not hesitate to take advanced ground
on suggestions for new treatment of
the tariff question. 1t will have to
be admitted that he has the courage
of his convictions.
* X X
What is the prospect for the legis-
iation of the session. There is prob
ably no leader in either body of the
Congress who would risk his reputa-
toin as a prophet upon predicting the
definite results of the long season
of legislative grist-grinding which
stretches ahead
For instance. it now seems assured
that the tariff making is to proceed
under conditions which will render
the process different from the con-
struction of aforetime tariff laws.
Old lines of action will be superseded
by the new method. in which the
operation of the bloc" system will
figure extensively, upSetting all the
familiar standards of party procedure.
The republican party is charged
with the responsibility of framing
the new tariff law, and will be held to
accountability in the elections next
November for doing it. But Will the
republican party, as a political unit,
make the law?
x X X
A republican candidate for rc-eiec-
ton TO Congress might be expected
to make the claim. in case his con-
stitnency proved dissatisfied with the
law, that the party should not he held
liable for the conglomerate measure
that seems destined to come. but
~ ould he be able to get away with
iff' The watchfu1 democratic minor
sfewiH. try to see to it that he does
notgslcceed.
The ground will be taken by the
,dei1toerats that the republicans. in