Evening star., 1922-04-29
HARDING OPPOSES
DAYuGHT-SAV|NG
Holds Same Benefits Can Be
Secured Better by
Alarm Clocks.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Daylight-saving will never be ma
tional during the administration of
President Harding.
Although conceding the advantages
of getting up early in the morning,
Mr.. Harding has taken the position
that moving the hands of the clock
forward is merely a deception during
the summer season, and that the
same ends can be accomplished by
the use of an alarm clock.
The chief executive has not been
confronted with the necessity of
signing or vetoing a bill on the sub
ject, for the good reason that Con-
gress has not been able to agree on
the matter, and the agricultural in
terests are strong enough to prevent
the passage OF any such proposal as
was adopted under the Wilson ad-
ministration as war measure. But
Mr.. Harding has had the matter up
because various local organizations
have suggested that it would be a
fine thing to have the government
departments in the National Capital
put on daylight-saving basis.
Suggests Other Plan.
This prompted the observation
from Mr.. Harding that he would not
sign any executive order for the
ments on daylight-saving plan. II
any of the department heads wanted
TO open his department an hour soon
er, Mr.. Harding sees no objection.
That is entirely up to the cabinet Of
ficer. The President holds the view
that If the people of a city want to
save an hour they can get together
and agree to get up an hour earlier
and to have the banks open an hour
sooner and to have their meals an
hour ahead of time and have the
theaters open at 1890 in the evening
instead of $3.50, and SO on.
Those who favor daylight saving
and there's a considerable sentiment
for it in Congress-answer the Presi-
dent by saying there is no chance of
getting agreement on anything ex-
cept by law and that all human con-
duct can only be regulated by law.
1t is admitted that there is conflict
of interest, especially as between
rural and city communities, but the
scheme Of settling the question by
local option has failed. Not only
have certain states failed to pass
laws providing for statewide day
light-saving because of the vigorous
opposition of rural districts, but
when the question has been left to
local decision confusion has resulted
Farm BlOc's Power Seen.
In President Harding's own state,
in fact In his own community, such
a disparity in time existed just be-
fore he came to Washington. The town
OF Marion retained its normal central
time. while Columbus. thirty-fve>
miles away, was an hour ahead. The
President, however, does not dispute
the advantages Of an early start, but
he insists that everybody ought to
change his or her habits with the
earlier sunrise instead of with the
hands of the clock.
The general feeling is that the farm
bloc is powerful enough to prevent
President Harding from ever agree
ing to a federal statute on the sub
ject. The national administratio may
find the problem before 1t IL the rail-
roads decide to ask federal permission
to change their schedules. but in view
of the confusion that might result
from the establishment of railroad
time" as differentiated from stand
ard time it is unlikely that the au-
thorities here will favor modification.
Copyright, 1927