The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-04-23
HEARING PRESIDENT HARDING'S
MESSAGE.

| The eyes of the world were turned
to Washington. Crafty England and
loyal France; defeated Germany and
cunning Japan; hopeful Liberia and
bleeding Haiti, and other nations OF
the world, looked this way.
Here in America the atmosphere
was tense with expectancy. Business
and political interests of every meas
ure; that great army of Everyday
Americans" who year after year 60
along the even tenor of their way,
and let me speak Of the South, the
whole South, where the Negro ques-
ton is a constant nightmare, and our
own good people everywhere, looked
with anticipation and longing to-
ward Washington. The President oil
the United States was to deliver
message, present a chart as it were,
! for the guidance of the ship of State.
ship of destiny.
| While the fate of peoples and of
nations, in measure, depended on
| the nature of the Presidents mes
sage, there was no excitement in
Washington, as excitement goes by
the mob. Approaching the Capitol
from the West front, magnificent ano
grand as it appears, / actually
thought of "The Deserted Village
There were few people in sight, and
said, here is wonderful demon
stration of peace.
On the East front the scene was
different. Hundreds of automobiles
were lined up, including those of the
President, members of the cabinet,
members of Congress and visitors
Hundreds Of people, unable to get in
because of regulations of the day,
stood silently about, just to get
glimpse of the man who was to
speak, and seemingly anxious to be
near the great spot if not in hear
ing distance.
Just a few minutes before one
o'clock the United States senators
filed in twos through the long cor
ridors from the Senate Wing to the
House of Representatives side. There
they were, the men of the upper
house of the law making body of the
nation. / stood in the rotunda seq
ton as they passed, and studied their
faces Democrats and Republicans
walked together with the slowness
of a funeral march. l could not
help wondering how many Democrats
were holding seats because my peo-
pie are denied votes | thought that
there ought to be another Bruce and
Langston in that line, and there VIII
be some day.
Every inch of space in the House
of Representatives was taken. The
Democrats sat on the East Side, the
Republicans on the West side. About
the Speakers desk sat the members
of the cabinet. Besides Speaker Gil
lett sat Vice-President Coolidge. The
galleries were filled with men and
women from all stations of life, from
everywhere very fortunate group
indeed, for history was in the MAX
ing.
When the President entered, all
stood, and there was applause. But
the occasion was solemn. AS !
looked down at the Democrats of the
House from the South, l wondered
how many of them were in places
that should be occupied by our own
representatives.
The day before, in the same place,
| had seen the venerable Congress
man ':Joe" Cannon administer the
oath of office TO Speaker Gillett, the
Oldest member in unbroken service.
They had seen our last Colored Con-
gresham, the late George White,
pass from action, and heard his elo-
ouent valedictory. I wonder whether
they will still be there when the next
Colored Congressman is sworn in, as
he is sure to be some day.
President Harding spoke from the
desk of the clerk. He looked every
inch a President of all the people.
He was soon to prove 1t. When he
began by saying: Members of the
Congress" you could hear the pro
verbal pin drop. There was not 4
disinterested person in sight. He
spoke all the way through his mes
sage in a well modulated CONVERSE
tional tone. Their was applause here
and there, the most coming when the
President said, "the league covenant
can have no sanction by us" But
that had followed a notable utter
ance.
Weaved carefully into his plea for
a Welfare Department came the Pres
ident's reference to the American
! Race Question. The tenseness Of
those moments indescribable. "
! would have been an ideal moment for
the photographers to have made pic
lures, for there was hardly a muscle
that moved in the entire assemblage.
Some few democrats looked red In
, the face. while some few Republicans
: turned pale I seemed to think
could hear the thud-thud beating Of
hundreds of hearts as this most cour-
| ageous man. President of all the peo-
pie, made the Race Problem an is
sue that must he solved in prac-
teal way
This portion of the Presidents ad-
dress was received with eloquent
and profound. but nevertheless,
think. significant silence. There was
no pause for applause. In fact. so
} cleverly did the President continue
reading his message, entering immedi7
ately into a discussion of Army and
! Navy bills, and so breathless were
bis listeners. that he was well into
the next subject before the people
realized what had been said.
! Newspapers are filed with opnions
! of this part of the Presidents adj
dress. It has seemed best for mo
! in this narrative to confine myself
10 description. AS the only news
| paper representative Of orr peoDle
on the ground. 1t seems the fitting
Ehing to do.
President Harding has not failed
Sc. 4, "a