, 1921-08-17

I'VE may question the statement of n Democratic
congressman" says the Springfield Union, that
President Harding's interference with the immediate
passage of the soldiers bonus bill is the most cour-
ageous political act since the days of Cleveland, for
Mckinley and Roosevelt did not lack courage in their
political acts, but it is beyond question that no act of
President Harding thus far has so contributed to pub
lie confidence in his strength of character and in the
courageous purpose of his administration as his act
upon the bonus proposition. This psychological effect
Is due less to public opposition to the measure than
to its instructive opposition to policy for political eff
feet It is no secret that many of the members of
congress who proposed to vote for it regarded it as
unwise, but they could not resist the DOGGY Of polit-
ical effect They assumed that it would make votes if
passed and result in a loss of votes if not passed.
whereas precisely the opposite was true.
Had it been true that the failure to pass such a
measure would have had a bad effect on the political
it would have been equally true that the bold manner
In which the president stepped in and prevented ia
vorable action would have had bad effect on him, on
his administration and on his party. But the polit-
ical effect has been exactly the opposite.
THE reason is plain. The public never makes, a
~favorite, least of all a hero, of a coward. 1t. is sick
and tired of the constant effort to govern political nc
ton on measures by their supposed political effect
rather than by a consideration of their merits. 1t has
no relish for cringing fear in its public men, More
over, when the people perceive an act by any public
man plainly showing that he is ignoring political eff
feet, as it is commonly considered, they Immediately
respond with their admiration and support. They will
have no admiration for nor faith in a congress that
seeks to make tariffs or shape internal taxes or any
other kind of Legislation with a view only or even
AANhhy ~ PohdSa SnSCb- Out lney Will put Inelr
faith in and give their support to any public man who
scorns the plea of cowardice.
Had Calvin Coolidge proceeded on the too com
mon theory of political effect he would never have
been vice president of the United States. When faced
with the alternative of boldly doing the right thing or
Of timidly compromising with political consideration,
he embraced the former and the response of the
American people was instant and countrywide. 1t
was precisely because they beheld a man who could
defy the false voice of political effect that later on a
far westerner rose from his seat in the convention and
shouted: We want Calvin Coolidge Coolidge dis
proved the theory that cowardice is a political virtue,
and the act of President Harding was one of the
same character.
sit took courage to interfere with congress after
all that had been said of White House autocracy; to
reject a measure that made some appeal to the ma
tons appreciation of its soldiers. But the courage
was available and the actual political effect has been
wholly in favor of the president and his party. 1t is
always SO. Political courage never fails to secure a
favorable response from the people. If this congress
is to make a good record for itself and insure a politi.
ical life to its leaders it will need to cure itself of the
worship of this DOGGY of political effect. It must learn
that the public admires courage and has no use for
demagogues."