The Washington herald., 1921-05-24
HARDING GIVES
PLEDGE TOCUT
EXPENSEOF US.
Says Nation Must Oper.
ate on Sound Rusi-
ness Method.
PROGRAM KEEPS
PRESIDENT BUSY
Weeps at Memorial Serv.
ice for 5000 Heroes
From France.

| Grief-and ne was unashamed
his tears-marked the first of the
ceremonies when he delivered a me-
mortal address over nag-draped cof-
fms of more than 5000 American
soldiers on the piers of Hoboken.
Next the President was met by
cheers and pledges of loyalty from
more than 1.4oo luncheon guests
which included leaders in political
thought. business and the world
generally.
Then on an automobile ride to
Brooklyn he was stirred by the cries
and shouts of more than 100000
school children lining the streets to
the 23d regiment armory.
As a finale, he spoke to business
pilots of the nation. guests at a
dinner at the Commodore Hotel in
celebration of the 125th anniversary
of the New York Commercial. Vice
President Coolidge spoke on the sub
ject, Safeguards of Democracy"
Then the President. Mrs. Harding
anu hhctuDtES VI the CdDlhtt anu
other distinguished visitors departed
on the Presidential yacht Mayfiower
for the return to Washington.
Sees Bivouac of Dead.
The Presidential party arrived on
the Mayfiower around . o'clock this
morning. They went soon after un-
der escort of Mayor Hyian and with
the usual police and marine convoy
to the army piers in Hoboken.
1t was "bivouac of the dead. -
The President solemnly marched be-
tweed the fong<rows of nag-draped
coffins. AS he bent above casket
placed directly before the impro-
yised rostrum, tears came into his
eyes. His voice was choked. He
hesitated a moment as IL oyerpow-
cred by emotions. then placed a
tanning the body of the first Ameri-
in the great war.
Relations Are Complex.
The text of the Presidents ad-
dress at the hotel follows. in part:
Everywhere we turn we note
that government has in recent, time
assumed q more complex relation
ship to the public than II ever sus-
tanned before. The mobilization OF
| man power, industrial forces and
financial resources. which was made
| necessary in the wars exigencies
could only have been accomplished
through the exertion Of the ex.
treme limit. and stupendously i'm
portant results were attained.
"As a result of that demonstra-
tion of goveFnment's capacity tc
force great results in emergencies
there has grown up a school OF
thought which assumes that ever
in time of peace the same auto
cratic authority might well be ex-
ercised in the general interest
Many men thoughtlessly urge that
governments took over the con.
troll. even the conduct. of many in
dustries and facilities during the
war; there followed great in.
crease in wages. a vast expansion
of business activity; therefore why
not assume that continuance OF
such control and management, in
time of peace. would enable con-
tinuance of the same liberality in
compensation and profits. the same
intense business activity?
Cost Was staEEering.
Those who look below the sur
face know that the things which
governments accomplished during
the war were accomplished at a
staggering cost: cost which So
ciety could not bear for long: a
cost that has left society burdened
with debts which mortgage gen.
erations of the future. They know
that the feverish seeming OF pros
perity was not genuine, but was
possibly only because society was
literally burning up it's stocks cf
capital: and that this destruction
of capital was responsible for the
reaction and depression which are
now felt universally. In this pro-
cess the. burdens of government
were immensely increased, and II
is for US now to find means of
tightening those burdens.
Government. to a greater EXTENT
now than ever. before. is under
obligation to give the greatest
service for the lowest possible cost.
But it is. for certain obvious rea-
sons, difiicult to do this because
government is not under the neces-
sity to earn profits. or to obey laws
which regulate competition. These
are the prime guarantees of Ell.
ciencv and fair dealing in private
business. Thew do not apply to
government. and. therefore. gov.
nrnment should be nIaced. as far as
possible. under a strict sway Of the
methods which are applied in nri-
vate business to secure these ends
Urges Busiress Methods.
Government should be broad con
scientious and intelligent enough
tn subject itself to these rules
despite that its quality et sover-
eighty wsuid place 1t beyond them
~ n chosa tn assume thst Dos't,or
Every principle and Ndevics which
promotes efficiepcv IN private bnsi-
ness Shouts be sdspted and applied
in government affairs. I will trust
the public nfiiciai who. decides his
public problem as though II were
his very own.
"Out OF such counsels win come
truer appreciation Of the difYicuities
and magnitude OF government busi-
ness a larger sense of public re-
sponsibility and hiehly SesirabIe
cooperation between public and
private business for the public
good"