The New York herald., 1921-04-13
PAPERS COMMENT
ON THE MESSAGE
Times Says President Tries
20 Avoid Quarrel With
}rrecOneiiables.
PRAISE in THE WORLD
Approval Of Harding's
Stand for Tax Revision
and Economy Given.
PRAISE In THE WORLD
DEFINITE IN OBJECTIvEs
Tribune Finds Foreign Pol
icy Is Outlined Only in It's
General Spirit.

Herewith are editorial COM
nents from newspapers published
In New York city and elsewhere
on the message OF President Har-
ding and its meaning:
New York Times (Dem.) Pres
ident Harding will have to say year
from now, or perhaps t%o years hence.
will interest the country moro than what
he said yesterday in his address to Con-
gress. His position is by no means an
easy one. He is confronted upon one
hand by group Of Republican Senators,
The irreconclables Of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee. who live, move and
have their being in hatred of the League
of Nations. Outside of that there is
hardly an idea in their heads. It is nat
urai that Mr.. Harding should wish to
avoid a quarrel with these men at the
very beginning of his Administration.
They were his old associated, friends
they are ambitious, even arrogant, in
their purpose to control the foreign rela-
lions Of the Republic. They do control
the Senate, OF course. and OF that fact
the Executive must take note.
View York Tribune (Repo--With re-
spect to American foreign policy Presi-
dent Harding indicates a spirit rather
than declares programme. He is defi-
mite as to the objects to be sought. but
indefinite except in negative way as to
the exact way Of attaining them.
He would have guarantees OF peace
through international association the
meeting OF obligations that we owe to
our allies in the war; q ratification OF
the Versailles Treaty minus the cove
nant and aid in enforcing it; an adop-
tton OF a peace resolution. but without
any attached declaration of general
policy. and some sort OF gathering for
tho negotiation OF covenant not based
on superstate principles or creating a
body on which is laid the police duty OF
enforcing the terms Of a particular
treaty.
But what he would include in the new
instrument he avoids declaring. To his
mind. II would seem. it should centre in
a codification OF general rights in the
manner Of The Hague Convention rather
than In political alliance. but how far
he would go in enlarging international
law and giving it new sanctions he does
not say.
Vow York World (Dem.)-There is one
section OF Mr.. Harding's address, con-
cerning which there will be little ad-
verse criticism. The country viii
heartily approve his plea for the revision
OF taxation. although he fails to offer
any substitute for the excess profits tax
that Is to be repealed or for the deficit
In the income and corporation taxes. 1t
will receive with still greater cordiality
his demand for rigid economy in Govt
ernnental expenditures and for a gen.
eral reduction in appropriations Here
again Mr.. Harding fails to take advan-
tage OF his opportunity 10 make the lilni-
tstion OF armament part of the eco
nomic programme OF his Administration
lie discusses the question casually and
expresses benevolent interest in II. but
he shows no appreciation OF what It
means in respect to the burden OF taxa
tion under which every Government is
staggering II Is idle to expect economy
while the Government continues TO spend
for war purposes 80 cents out of every
dollar that 1t collects in taxes
Philadelphia Public Ledger tRepo-
So far as It has been disclosed, the
foreign policy OF the Harding Admins
tration is woefully incomplete. 1t is a
negative rather than a positive policy
as IL is outlined in the message. The
world association" is a vague and form
less thing. There is no outline OF how
we shall 60 about taking what we want
from the treaty OF peace and ignoring
the leagues enforcing machinery. We
do not know whether we are to ratify
the treaty by sections OF to make sep
arate commitments OF agreements.
Detroit Free Press CTtep.)-PresIdent
Hardings address to Congress Is a plain.
unvarnishcd document, essentially sound
ts zfssr.rs ..1I.s
The country at large can examine IL and
know to a certainty where tho Admin
istration stands on any one Of the zig
questions OF the day. The most In
portant matter before the country, tic
question OF economic adjustment, cores
first, and the President VIII have the
hearty approval of tho nation in his ap-
peal for thriftlness both in appropria-
ton and outlay and in his insistence that
the cost OF running the Government m ist
De lowered
Springfield Republican (nd. gepJ-
The portion of the Presidents message
which will be most studied is that deal
ing with foreign relations. He dismisses
the League OF Nations. as he has dis.
missed IL before. With each dismissal IL
becomes more OF triumph of faith
over experience for pro-league Repu5-
leans to persist in the hope that he viii
yet build the promised association of ma
lions upon some fragment OF the cove
nant. The reference to declaratory
resolution ending a technical state OF
war with Germany Is in a double sense
the significant passage.
Springfield Union fRep.l--Because the
Presidents admirable exposition OF our
Domestic questions fully responds TO the
tenor and purpose Of the nation they
may be pa sssed with little comment other
than the approval they will generally
receive. that particular attention may be
given that part of the message dealing
with our foreign relations and the exec
rtive purpose pertaining thereto This
programme. in short, is one that While
rejecting the league az a part OF the
treaty reserves the right under the treaty
nrd leaves il to the Executive 10 enter
into engagements with other nations.
both with the late enemies and the
Allies. both to conserve our rights ard
TO help them in the furtherancc Of peace.
New Orleans Times-Picayunc (DemD--
We gather that the President is minded
10 60 along with Congress- rs far as he
can, leaving TO IL the initiative In mat
ters OF legislative policy. But one
passage inspires the suspcon--and The
hope-that he will not go all the way
with Congress and It's leaders unless
convinced III mind and conscience that