Evening star., 1922-08-12
AVOIDS USE OF BIG STICK
IN STRIKE ADJUSTMENT
President Harding Employs Voice of
Reason, Despite Criticism-Must
Meet Conflicting Sentiment.

desired objective-the maintenance of
normal transportation and the pro-
duction of an adequate supply OF fuel.
It's true that since the crisis began
some of the ardent sticklers Tor a III
eral Interpretation OF the ConStltu-
ton have seen the emergency grow
steadily worse, and among members
of Congress the view is beginning to
take hold that if the President asks
for blanket authority to deal with the
Industrial crisis he can get it, and the
constitutional obstacles Will be brush
ed aside with the same spirit OF pub
lie necessity as was the case during
the war. when in senatorial debate
some senators went so lar as TO say
the Constitution itself is suspended in
time of public distress.
Character of Criticism.
Strangely enough. as Mr.. Harding's S
policies in the coal strike and rail
situation are reviewed by the critics
and they are not partisans, put
members of the Presidents own
group in the Senate-there is more
or less uniform belief that MIR. Hard
ing proceeded along the right lines
in his efforts at mediation and con-
ciliation. but that he did not inter
vene at the psychological moment ana
waited too long between moves. IL
is suggested. for instance, that when
the Shopmen accepted the PRESIDENT 3
three proposals and the rail- eXecu-
tiyes approved two Of them. several
days went by without decisive action
frCm the White House. The other
course. it is being said, would have
been to summon the rail executives TO
Washington at once and work out the
COMPROMISE on the spot which is ap-
parently being worked out now after
a week has spaSsed and the situation
on the roads especially in the west
has grown worse.
Mr.. Harding doesn't pretend to be
omniscient or gifted with provision.
He feels he has done the best he
that coercion and threats would not
have ameliorated but aggravated the
t!iSputanJs. Another thing he ls
learning is that being President OF
the United States in crisis ls one
thing and being Il critic in the senate
or elsewhere is quite another, all OF
which is reminiscent of some or the
troubles Woodrow Wilson used to
have with mercless critics when he
followed the paths of eXpediency be-
cause he thought it would end a Crisis
with less damage to the public IN
tereSt than Il finish nght between
capital and labor.
Presidents Trying Experience.
Mr.. Harding is going through an
ii
OF presidential responsibility in a
great crisis which ought to make
a man pause a long time before hf
ever becomes 4 candidate for the
presidency Mr.. Harding may con-
vince himself that he is man of
patience and forbearance and that
he doesn't threaten or coerce, but
before he is through with the present
industrial trouble many who have
watched him grow in the presidency
predict that he will be changed
man and that while he will never de-
velop bellicoSe tendencies he Will
gradually lose some of his traits Of
non-resiStance which have made it
possible for Congress every now and
then to ignore his wishes and for
railroad executives coal operators
and labor leaders to refuse to obey
mandates of public opinion as eN-
pressed by the man in the White
House.
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