Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-07

VHt UtNsiE t. u "'''Hs Hs''f.
EScept upon ex,rsoteioary occa-
sisns. when issues of grave moment
confront the country, the annual
message of tn. President 60 the Con /
srv-s In what may he called a reguls-
ton preceding II brings forth vari-
cus matters that are likely to claim /
attention from the Congress ana urges
them upon the serious consid sr,'i ion
of that body And this is the general
character Of the message rcaG before
,hr Congress by President liza ding
yesterday. His party oresns will
Krav.iy set " down as "spleldid
Stat. paper" the organs of the op-
POSING party will hold II up 20 ridi-
.ulo fur weakness and entire absence
cf statesmanshlp. And the general
rhhh' VIII b'sioN ht'c aN'ehuoh
ucn a.
Very modcstly Mr.. Harding tells
the Cons'es, he has NO desire 20 pre-
cent program VI war restoration. and
NO intention whatever of debating to
that bodS. But he insiSlously refers
o. the responsibility. under our form
" government. of the party In power
and, rs-rshlS inspired by the condi-
tirn. that were ~ conspicuous during
the special session. insinuatos the adj
Nisahihty 81 occasional resort to COM
PROMISE IN order 10 achieve results.
With evident reserve. that viii 6e
veil understood. the President praises
the work" OF Congress thus far. cs-
recinliy dvcliins upon the new BUD
set law. which he believes will prove
81 sr~at value. ~. refers 60 the set
tlmsnt of our foreign loans. but plain
~ says ~ is ur to tho Congress 20 ar
taLg, fur this important work.
The leading topics treated. as
was expected. are the merchant ma
rlnc and the tarin. In respect Of the
former, Mr. Harding follows plainly
the course adopted by Mr.. Wilson in
ohi.ctina 90 any announcement % our
commercial treaties. ss provided for in
the Jones law. which MIR Wilson re-
fused to obey. He holds these treatie
a. he essential 90 the interests of our
foreign trade, and then proceeds TO
mention his desire for the reimburse
m,nt" OF our merchant marine. This
plan he has In mind he defer. men,
uonins. saying he will imrart this in
formation IN few weeks, but adds
that the cost to the country will be
no greater than at present That he
has In mind scheme of direct sub
sidy Will he generally believed.
MI. Hnrdinss tariff recommenda- =
tions arc only what was expected
Evidently recognizing the unsatisfac-
tory character of the Emergency
rarin net, he asks for its substitution
b, ono that may have some probab
i's of pcrman-ncy. nut he shows his
party incline,ions by expressing pre-
fsf~nc, Tor tarifr duties that will tend
a. conserve home prosperity. and that
IL merely asking for a return to the
prot.ctiv. tarifr policy. He refer. &c
the manifold difficulties that always
attend n general revision Of the tariff
hut he makes no recommendation q
avoid most 81 them by turning against
the Gle Republican party policy OF
Imposing heavy tariff eutie. for the
protection ~ special interests. no mat.
ter how burdensoms they may prov,
to the people. His vague remark,
about 'srir schedules that woult
prove 'n,sitle" In their relation 20 oul
business interests CO not serve tc
disguise the kind of tariff that he ha,
IN mind. Tie would have return {,
tAe old Republican system. although
possibly with lively recollection o
The political disastcr II has more thar
once brought upon the Republicar
party, he does not come out openl,
and sguarely for such return.
However. MIR. Harding has deliv
cred HE message TO the Congress, an,
the country now knows wha, he ha
a. say. Ne has not said a great deal
and nothing that he says is particu
iSrly impressive. In fact. II was &
lafs. part the regulation messag,
standing IN line with the ma jority o
iis predecessors that now find per
msnent place In the public document,