The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-06-20
.Generalship
By
Mr.. Harding
By DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The lnte.LSencec

Washington. June -. President
Hardings readiness TO agree 10 a post
ponement Of action by the house OF re-
personalities on the ship subsidy bill
Is an affirmative step induced by consid-
eratious OF strategy which he believes
will insure the passage OF the bill at
this session OF congress.
Details OF the presidents position be-
came known today after his return from
4 week end cruise on the Mayhower. Mr..
Harding will communicate his views ~
house leaders within Cay or two. In
brief. Mr.. Harding Is not trying 10 die
tate the exact day and hour the subsidy
bin should DO passed and Is willing 10
defer TO the Judgment OF house leaders
on this point so long as he gets the
legislation through before the present
session OF congress Is adjourned
Having made the threat that he will
call congress into extra session IL an
adjournment Is taken without passing
the subsidy blll. Mr.. Harding found
himself confronted With the alternative
OF Forcing the measure through now
while the house is in a disappointed
mood over having been compelled 10
stay here against It's will. or waiting
siN members have had a little vacation
on. gotten an opportunity 10 mend
their political fence" hack home.
The president could have forced
action this week but II would have been
a. the expense OF an emasculated bill.
Mr.. Harding Is showing shrewd signs
of generalship In catering TO the wishes
~ the house leaders at this time 90 that
when the members get back in six or
seven weeks they will have no excuse
for further delay.
Induced to Yield
The truth is that Mr.. Harding was
persuaded 70 yield 70 the plan OF post
ponement largely because Of the argu-
ment made 10 him BY members OF the
rules committee that they hadn't had
sufficient time 20 study the subject. Mr.,
Harding learned. for instance. that the
record o. the hearings before the mer-
chant marine committee had not been
assembled and bound so that the matter
could be thoroughly digested. Several
leaders said they thought members
would feel better about Il after they
rlso had had a chance 70 canvass public
sentiment in their communities.
As matters stand now Mr.. Harding
will lose nothing by keeping on friend
Is terms with ths house membership.
TTc Will &c, better bill passed six
Nvee'is from now lIan he could get this
week Even - the subsidy bill were
20 be passed by the Hous" within the
next caw days as Mr.. Harding origin
ally thought would be the case. the
measure would have 10 lie over for an
other month or two until tho Senate
aoishs.I vork on the tariff bill
The New Plan
Under the new plan to which Mr.
Harding has agreed the House will re-
cess three DAYS a. time under a
Eentlerer's agreement between the
leaders OF the Democratic and Repub-
ncar pAtIes 20 the effect that no party
matters Will come up for consideration
while the members take a vacation.
Then when the tariff bill Is ready tho
House Will BE- called back and the meas
,.rcr sent 10 conference in few days.
While the tariff bill is IN conference
rhf House will act on the ship subsidy
hill and the Senate will take mp the
ccnus II Il has not b.-n given right or
way over the tariff by that time The
senate may Of course be discussing the
Subsidy measure while the House IS
doing the same thing but the President
ts of the opinion that Congress ought 10
and will place the ship subsidy Law on
rhe books before tho autumn ELECTIONS
Instead cr imagining In the bill an un-
popula- move many OF the PRESIDENT
suuporters believe Il will add TO Re-
rubiica9 prestige a, the polls as II will
he presented as the outstanding
chloverent OF the constructive character
% the first TWO years OF III" Harding
administration.
Liquor on Ships
Other advantages In waiting till later
In the summer for action on the ship
subsidy bill lie in getting more dis
passionate view later on the question OF
selling l!quor on board American ships
than is possible at the present time. 1t
IL expected that facts and figures will
be marshaled nrst 70 show that Amert-
can ships VIII he nt a serious disadvan-
taEe II the sale OF liquor is prohibited
on board American vessels while those
under foreign fags are unmolested, and
second that treaties will prevent the ap-
pucation OF american law 70 foreign
vessels as contemplated in pending bills
which seek 70 prevent all ships enter
ing American ports from selling intox!-
can,s on journeys 70 and from the Unit
cd states
The President has Yielded an inch 70
gain , mile lie IS more confident today
thar rS clcr has been Of the ultimate
massage b. both houses loi his favorite
r,n,pr-. rrnaf'ur 4 no~,pArcn' American