The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1922-03-09
NORMALCY NEAR,
SAYS PRESIDENT
Harding Is Pleased With Work
of His Administration.
TALKS TO NEWSPAPER MEN
Executive Declares Long Step Toward
Getting Back to Normal Ways of
Government Has Been
Achieved Since War.

washington, March GA return
to normal ways Of government,
President Harding declared in an adj
dress before members Of the National
Press club. he considers an achieve
ment of his first year in the White
House.
IF nothing else had been accom-
plished" the President said, the long
step toward getting back to normal
ways If government would seem to me
to have been the achievement OF the
year"
The address was delivered at an en-
tertainment given in honor of his first
"ofIicial" birthday and 10 mark the
occasion a birthday cake surmounted
by one candle was presented TO him.
81 suppose that you are wondering
what my impressions are after a year
In the White House" the President
said. 1T seems to me tonight that |
may have been President for 70
years. Life has been so full that |
have scarcely any recollections of the
period prior to my becoming President
except one The outstanding thing
that l can recall is my conception of
the senate of the United States as
compared to that | have today. | do
not mean to be dsrespectful to the
senate in saying that
"There have been disappointments
and dreams that have not come true
A large part of the fault may have
been that of the executive. But ! adj
monish you in one respect. | don't be-
lieve any of you understand the diff
cult problems that the new administra-
ton had to undertake.
Says Word of Wilson.
Don't mlscOnstrue me. l don't
mean to be critical of the previous
administration and l am not unmindful
that my distinguished predecessor was
I'll more than his last year. The fact
Is that the government was adrift in
the tremendous current that followed
the war. The problems Of readjust-
ment were infinitely more difficult than
any of you have ever thought or | had
ever dreamed.
"If had accomplished nothing else
than the long step of getting back to
normal ways of government this would
seem to me-knowing what ] know
now-the real achievement Of the
year.
at is good to throw responsibility
aside here tonight and be human. If
there is anything wrong with this
White House job it's the inability to
be a human being.
"Yet there are compensations. In
spite Of criticism, irritations, and bur
dens there is compensation in the
knowledge that out Of your little ca
pacity and good conscience. you are
Joining with thousands of Americans
in adding to stability and in making
sure that our inheritance will be re-
tanned and handed down.
IF we can make this government of
ours the sheet anchor Of modern de-
mocracy and the symbol of surety for
the world and make 1t express the
aspirations of mankind everywhere we
shall have made a contribution that
will help keep alive the desire to give
supreme human service"
Attends Labor Anniversary.
Before going to the Press club
President Harding attended the ninth
annual observance of the founding Of
the labor department as the guest of
Secretary Davis. He shook hands with
several hundred members of the de-
partment and in a short talk expressed
his pleasure at being present.
Earlier in the day Mr.. Harding was
asked to make a formal statement in
regard to the years accomplishments.
He replied:
"The record will speak for itself; 1t
would be o poor administration that
required the executive to speak for it,"
Congressional leaders point to the
record with pride, particularly the eco
nomic record, despite the huge war
debts which confronted the President
when he took office, and the record Of
international diplomacy which began
with establishment Of peace with the
central powers and eliminated with
the treaty achievements Of the Wash
ingtOn arms conference.