The New York herald., 1921-05-23


New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. d. c., May FL. }
~ RESIDENT HARDING has been ION
the job about ten weeks-time
enough to set in motion the princi-
pal projects contained in the Republican
prospectus, along with a few benevolent
schemes of his own devising not time
enough to warrant oracular conclusions as
to the breadth of his craftsmanship, the
scope of his vision or the likelihood of his
success in doctoring the prosperity of the
country to normal health.
It might not be bad idea to think of
Harding as a good, conscientious sympa-
thetic general practitioner with 40 claim
to being a specialist) sitting at the bedside
normal after a spree which has played
hob with stomach circulatory system and
nerve centres The good doctor is known
to possess a lot Of common sense great
deal Of human sympathy and a trace at
least Of the "royal touch" that singular
virtue Of rulers which, according to tradi-
t1on, enabled them to exercise ills by a
kind of laying on Of hands. Dr. Harding
has already taken from his handbag. with
It's rows Of labelled tubes, certain specifics
that should be beneficial to any sick per-
son, and he is intently studying the pa
tents symptoms to the end of hitting upon
special treatment
The circulatory system (the railroads)
bothers him. He tells his friends that If
Uncle could get his blood running freely
other distressing ailments would be very
apt to disappear Then there is the stomach.
which is not giving very good metabolism.
The body is not getting the quality of
nourishment It needs or tnnr it Is really
used to. Something has to be done to build
up the stomach, which is the country's pro
ductive capacity. Then. too. the nerve cen
tres, communications by mail and through
the air, are run down. DR.. Harding has
number Of specialists in these matters to
assist him-Dr. Hoover. very noted for sue
cessful methods to enrich blood DR.. Hays.
nerve specialist; DR.. Hughes, cerebral spe-
cialist. But the responsibility for getting
Uncle upon his feet can't be divided.
The President comprehends this and the
people seem to understand it very sympa-
thetically, prepared to follow the treatment
very patiently. The people seem to be pre-
pared to extend to the physician all the
time he needs to get his cure under way.
The country seems deliberately to have
created a reserve Of restraint and patience
in Harding's Casa reserve that may con-
ceivably last several years without being
exhausted. Certainly few Presidents began
their work in the kind of atmosphere
Of affectionate confidence that Harding
breathes daily. 1t is hard to recall an
instance Of such general willingness to
bride partisanship and close the teeth upon
criticism. In Congress, especially In the
Senate. there are irrepressibles among the
vannuished that remind one of coyotes cir
cling camp In the nighttime and utterng
ullulations of resentment because they cam
not get at the bacon and beans. Rut these
don't count for much In the general scheme
of things, except to make folk grin.
The country is with its Chief by bigger
majority than 1t gave him last November
if the various means Of interpreting public
sentiment are still reasonably Trustworthy.
They realize the size of the job he has
tackled. They realize. too that 1t is not n
fob that can be completed In few months
or even in few years. Apparently all
the people expect from the President Is
that he shall make a sensible beginning
along practical lines They are observing
him keenly right now to see what he does
for a beginning to gauge the trend of his
mind to watch his ways of dealing with
conflicting groups Of opinions. TO note how
he can handle certain gentlemen In the
Senate who are made out Of what the
French call fierce stuff" They are for
him. They want him 10 win They are
betting on him. They seem TO like the cut
Of his iib. Everything he does interests
the people-the most trivial things Their
interest In him and In Mrs. Harding is
voracious thing craving enormous amounts
Of food.
The President and Mrs. Harding have