The Washington herald., 1921-06-01
SENATORS FEAR
Loss OF POWER
UNDER HARDING
Presidents Grasp Firm on
Executive Function
Of Office.
nv JOHN GLEIssNER-

Senators are learning that Pres
ident Harding. while even-tempered
and disinclined to give offense. Is
none the less insistent, in a quiet
sort OF a way. in accomplishing
after his own fashion, what he
thinks best
tn. senate is not dominating the
government. nor is Its power
greater than it has been under
prevfous administrations, Presi-
dent, Harding. il becomes increas-
ingIy clear, has quite definite ideas
of the spheres in which the execu-
tive and legislative branches should
function. He guards his own
movements with care. SO it cannot
be said he attempts the assumption
OF undue power and infringes on
tne congress. But at the same time
he is equally careful to see tnat
executive prerogatives remain with
the Executive and are not usurpeo-
Named by Senator's
II is no secret that the powerful
senate group went into the repuoli-
can national convention in Chicago
smarting and irritated at the treat
ment IL had received at the hands
Of Wilson. 1t was determined TO
regain its prestige, and wanted for
President a man who had what the
senators considered a proper idea
Of the Importance of the senate
Harding - himself a senator-was
named: the senate group helped
name him and helped elect him.
But IL the senator's expected that
as a result of this the affairs OF
the government were to be directed
from capitol hill, they have been
mistaken Shortly after Harding
was elected he made a speech In
the senate to his former colleagues.
urging cooperation for common
good In this speech there was.
however. a plain warning that the
President intended to keep in his
own hands the constitutional rights
OF the executive. The same idea
was put forward again when the
President delivered his annual mes
sage to congress.
Knox Peace Progress-
The progress of the Knox peace
resolution furnishes perhaps the
best example OF what has hap
pened Senator Knox intended to
incorporate in his resolution a
declaration of policy" for the
United States. and said 50 pub
IicIy Republicans on the foreign
relations committee supported him
Senator New said something about
a new Monroe doctrine" Then
the word went out. quietly, that
President Harding and Secretary OF
State Hughes did not think it wise
to include :he declaration. 1t was
dropped.
The senate passed the Knox peace
resolution, in the form of the senate
foreign relations committee ap-
proved-the Republican senators
who fought the Versailles treaty
and league covenant and forced into
the campaign the league issue. The
resolution went to the house. Since
then it has been completely re-
written and altered. Chairman
Porter, of the foreign affairs COM
naitfes. during the time the resolu-
ton has been in committee, has had
numerous conferences at the White
house and some at the state depart
meat
" Knox Keeps silent.
Ths senate expected the resolu-
tioR T. go through the house as it
passes the upper chamber. with lit
tie daiay. whether changes made
" ths house will be resisted is not
spparsnt Senator Knox, since his
declaration of policy was dropped,
has had little to say.
The senate also is uneasy about
it's chief aversion, the treaty OF YER
safiles President Harding. with
Secretaries Hughes and Hoover, is
dispias-ing a friendliness toward the
pact they do not like. They are
watchful. and are not at all pleased
although they are saying little-at
this time The participation of
America in European councils, a
step negotiated without consultation
with senator's. is a further cause fer
uneasiness The complete separa-
ton from the treaty, and from Euro
pean deliberations. so frequently
promised from the floor of the SEN
ate. seems to have failed of accom-
plishment.
Example of Colombia.
The Colombian treaty furnishes
another example of executive infiu-
ence. President Harding wanted II
ratified. and it was. A republican n
senate previously had repudiated it.