The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-03-08
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Despatch to The Reformer
Copyright 1921

Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON, March S.-The era of
good feeling, proclaimed so hopefully by
President Harding in his inaugural adj
dress, has in a measure been begun.
The smiling countenances of Democratic
as well as Republican senators emere-
ing from the Presidents Office bore tes-
timony today to the fact that for the
hrst time in eight years congress and
the chlef executive are on intimate
terms with one another. This means no
reflection on MIR. Wilson who came to
Washington without knowing much
about the personal equation or congress
and who never cultivated the legislative
membership but it does mean that War
| rem Hardings SIX years in the United
| states senate VIII probably prove
| great advantage instead of a handicap
| to him
| There are almost as many Democrats
| as Republicans calling on Mr.. Harding.
! Senator Oscar Underwood, of Alabama.
| leader of the minority spent long
| time with the president When he came
| out OF the White house Mn Underwood
| admitted that he had asked Mr. Hard
| ing to give the boys in congress Il
| chance to 90 home between now and
| the extra session OF congress, arguing.
| indeed. that congress would probably be
| here all summer and that the iuteTvale
| was needed BY every member of con-
gress irrespective of party. But that
wasn't all that Mr.. Underwood and Mr..
| Harding talked about. The President
| and / are old friends" said AR Under
wood with a laugh. and we had a good
deal to talk about that couldn't be made
public Another Democrat, Senator
Chamberlain of Oregon, had an audience
with President Harding who il viii be
recalled expressed personal regret at the
defeat suffered by Mr.. Chamberlain in
the last election.
What chance had T. said Mr. Cham
berlain ioEinzlv when the out going
president did not want me reelected and
the incoming president telegraphed out
that he wanted Il Republican elected
There is good reason To believe Presl-
dent Harding Will take care of Mr..
| chamberlain by appointing him to the
shining board as Il Democratic member.
But the striking event with which War
ren Harding begins his first week as
chief executive Is unaueStIonablv the
dinner given at the White house to
twelve members of the house and nine
members Of the senate all of them Re
publican leaders. Mr.. Wilson did not
lbalieve in talking business at meal
times Rarely did he invite ANYBODY to
lunch or dinner who might talk shop,
1.-THE occasions at which senators and
representatives were especially invited
no ttltle ut lLG w ibiLG iabNtNt III TIC ld7N
EIGHT years can be numbered on the
fingers Of two hands. Both Presi-
ldents Taft and Roosevelt seldom missed
La week without having senators and
representatives at their lunch tables.
| Mr.. Wilson preferred to work between
Imeal hours and see callers in the fore
moon or afternoon or even after dinner
lat night reserving meal hours for his
family. President Harding however.
shares the European idea that much
I 1 e. IL -,
ment over cup of coffee than by
stiff and formal conferences under the
stress and strain of crowded engage
ment list. MIR. Harding knows congress
and is aware that the success of his adj
IministratiOn depends upon the kind of
1.-THE members of his own party but the
minority as well. The president IS an
earnest individual who has. set out to
get the maximum amount of help out OF
| congress. He is already popular with
the rank and file of congress. He be
lieves moreover in party organization
land will follow rather rgidly the rec
concentrations of the local party chief
ltans on appointments. His knowledge
of how to handle politicians Is his
greatest asset for. while the political
folks do not as Il rule contribute con.
structive ideas they can do a great deal
to undermine and destroy nublc conf.
dence in a chief executive. MIR. Harding
Il has started out well with his INVITA-
ltions to senators to sit down with him
at dinner and plan the work of the eX
ira session Mr. Harding moreover has
given his cabinet to understand that ht
hopes they will handle as much bust
ness as possible without referring mat
tiers to him He wants the heads of the
departments to manage those depart
ments and to consult him only on cues
! lions Of broad policy. Mr.. Hardini
means to make his cabinet officers dc
the work and take the responsibility