The Dawson news., 1921-06-07
HARDING'S EASY GOING
WAYS MlSTIFY PUBLIC
ON EQUAL TERMS OF FRIEND
Illness WITH SENATOR
AND ICEMAN.

| WASHINGTON, D. C.-Perhaps
this isn't the sort of story one should
tell. 1t strips away some of that divin-
ity that doth hedge king and which,
presumably, should likewise hedge a
president. But it is extremely valua-
bic, because it will help the distant
reader to understand what are Presi-
dent Harding's relations with the sem
ate, and with politicians and bearded
ladies and heads of great banks and
labor unions. President Harding had
just finished a round Of golf. The day
was warm, and the presidential person
was bathed in sperspiration.
1--WE will set aside this dressing
room for your personal use, said the
steward of the golf club as Mr.. Hard
ing entered.
mo, no." said Harding. "Why
should you do that? I'll dress out
here with the boys"
Any one who knows Mr.. Harding
knows precisely how he would say
that. He never gives evidence of
knowledge that gallery exists. He
speaks with frank smiling simplicity
that is very taking. He removed his
golf clothes and started for the show
er baths. The two or three who were
likewise. starting for the showers stepp-
ed back, embarrassed, to give him pre-
cedence. 1t would never do to share
shower bath with the president of
the United States. The procedure
seemed to them lacking in dignity.
That didn't occur to Mr. Harding.
Come on in with me, he called.
There's plenty of room in here"
1t is his wish, if one may translate
his action, to be on precisely the same
terms with intimates as when he was
Senator Harding. Not that he is not
careful of the dignity of the office, but
he assumes that it will never become
necessary for him to remind those he
meets of it. He seems genuinely en-
barrassed when the limelight flashes
on him unexpectedly. He actually
blushes-which is strange thing in
a public man-and one expects to see
him dig his toes into the ground as
hustered small boy might. At the same
time he never loses his grip on him
self or his subject or the situation.
No Barrier of Formality.
This fact-that he endeavors to
avoid the erection of a stiff bar to
formality in his intercourse with his
friendS-explains, | think, the much
talked of relationship between the
president and the republican members
OF the foreign relations committee of
the senate. There are irreconcilable
partisans who insist that the senators
are domin ating the situation and that
the legislative power is on the verge of
usurping the prerogativeS, of the execu-
tive. They see the Hill making the
white house seem small and picture
Senators Knox and Lodge sending to
Harding the orders for the day.
1t is obvious enough, l think, that
Mr. Harding is on precisely the same
terms of friendly intimacy with the
Messrs. Lodge and Knox that he was
before he was elected to the presiden-
cy. He likes them, likes to talk to
them, appreciates their position as
heads not only of the foreign relations
committee but of the republican party
in the senate, and respects their
knowledge and experience. He is try
ing in the most friendly way to Sc
cure that cooperation between the
white house and the senate that he be-
lieves the makers of the constitution
had in mind. Precisely the same inter
change Of thought marks the very eff
fective English parliamentary system.
Almost every weekend the premier
manages to have closeup talk in
some country house with some of his
supporters or opponents.
A Shock to Washington.
This has been a dreadful shock to
Washington, Of course. For eight
years the relations between congress
and the white house have been those
existing between two active Kilkenny
cats. Mr.. Taft was on anything but
friendly terms with the leaders of the
national legislature Mr.. Roosevelt car
ried the big stick, but did not bother
| to walk softly when he visited The
Hill. Washington became convinced
| that state of ug-throwing high-ten-
sion. is natural and proper between the
senate and white house One of the
commonplace, chatty, 1eg-crossed and
Ivest-unbuttoned friendship to Wash
ington like defeat and capture
1t isn't hard to see, though, that
Mr.. Harding's relations with the SEN
ate are apt to be more pleasant if he
| SeAAA NtNAl oNAAdtClo bJ lIINh III 81 idHICS
instead of referring to them as a lit
tie group of wilful men, nor that he
is apt to have his way. There is not
a bit of doubt that Senator's Lodge
and Knox are kept advised of the in
formation coming to the state depart
ment, or that they are consulted from
time to time when the foreign policy
of the United States is formulated The
| re latioOS betuenn the avac,,+;,,a o-J
the legislative branches bid fair to be-
come increasingly efficient as they be-
come increasingly friendly, which in
president Harding's opinion, is just
what they should be-
But large section of Washington
feels aggrieved. The attitude OF the
white house and The Hill toward each
other should, this section thinks, be
that of an earnest Sim Feiner toward
a particularly cussed Black and Tan.