The St. Mary banner., 1921-04-23
PRESIDENTS
MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS
Harding Asks Peace With
Germany, Lower Tax and
Cheaper Living.

sive solemnity that marks a presiden
tial appearance before joint session
OF congress, President Harding came
before the assembled house and sen
ate Tuesday and gave the nation and
the world the first authoritative out
line of the new administration poll
cies In foreign and domestic matters
The foreign policy which the presi
dent outlined definitely and finally
scraps" the IN que OF nations as 1t
now exists and declared that the Unit
ed States can never become a mem
Der OF It. In order to get the nation
back on a peace basis, the president
declared he would approve a congress
sional resolution to this effect, pro
viding that 1t contained no more than
the simple declaration that the state
OF war which has existed between the
United States and Germany for four
years is at an end.
While the president was emphatic In
his assertion that the United States
will have none Of the league of ma
tions In its present form, he did not,
however wholly reject the treaty
which former President Wilson inter
wove In the league. With regard to
the treaty ITSELF the president left the
door open for future developments.
In this he said:
agrbo ,,,;aar onuroa upnId caarO IN he
the acceptance Of the confirmation
of our rights and interests as already
provided and to engage under the ex-
listing treaty, assuming, of course, that
this can be satisfactorily accomplish
ed by such explicit reservations and
modification as will insure our abso-
lutte freedom from inadyisable commit.
ments and safeguard our essential in
terests."
The presidents principal recommen-
dation to congress were:
Foreign relations: No separate
peace with Germany "on the assump-
tion at once that these would be ade-
quate." The wiser course would seem
10 be TO engage under the exist
ing treaty, assuming, Of course, that
this can be satisfactorily achieved by
such explicit reservations and modi-
fications as will secure our absolute
freedom Of land, visable commitments
and safeguard all our essential inter
ests. no helpful society or ma
tions can be founded on justice and
committed to peace until the cove
nants re-establishing peace are sealed
by the nations which were at war;
Taxation: Readjustment Of inter
nal taxes and revision or repeal "of
those taxes which have become un-
productive and are so artificial and
burdensome as to defeat their own
purpose"
Tariff: Instant tariff enactment,
emergency in character and under
stood by our people that It Is for the
emergency only"
Railroads: Efficient operation ''at
. cost within that which the traffic
can bear. = - railway rates and costs
of operation must be reduced"
The remaining obstacles which
are the Inheritance of capitalistic ex.
ploitation must be removed and la
Dor must join management in under.
standing that the public which pays
Is the public to be served and simple
Justice Is the right and will continue
to be the right of all the people"
Good Roads: The Strengthening OF
laws governing federal aid
Merchant Marine: Private monop-
olies tending to prevent the develop
ment OF needed facilities should be
prohibited. aforementioned facili-
ties wherever possible without unduly
with private enterprise or
government needs should be made |
available for general usages"
Aviation: Regulate. by the fed.
sral government and .icouragement |
,f aviation for development for mill
AIRY and civil purposes"
Service Men: The American people
expect congress unfailingly to voice
he gratitude of the republic in a gen.
'rous and practical way to its defend
'rs In the world war" The imme-
late extension and utilization of gov
rnment hospital facilities to bring
ellef to the acute conditions most
OF"
Public Welfare: Coordination of
arious government agencies now
rorking on the subject and indorse-
lent of the pending maternity bill"
Lynchins: Congress ought to wipe
he stain OF barbaric lynching from
he banners OF free and orderly rep
naAnfafive democrnry nronosol ,