Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-09
HARDING GETS
VACATION; NO
IRONS IN FIRE
President Takes Out
door Exercise When
ever Time Permits.
Thinks Republicans Are
Safe in Campaigns;
To Stay in Capital.
By ROBERT T. SMALL

o FtOe@
speelal CORRESPONDENT Of The Great fails Irieors'
Copyright. 1922. by The 0reSs Falls Tterns
Washington, Oct. S-Preshdent Har-
ding is having his first real vacation
since he entered the White House. and
he is enjoying it to the fun, II he
voluntarily ends the vacation by calling
congress back 10 work On November 10
it will be the duty and not pleasure
which dictates the move.
Mr.. Harding is having s rest Of the
mind as well as the body. The worries
which beset him a few months ago cui.
minated in the all euC tragic Illness OF
Mrs. Harding, all seem 10 have elsap-
peared for the time beng ! the
president is showing the relief from
the strain by a more rugged appearance
than those about him have seen for q
year or more.
The summer sun of the last 10 days
has tanned him to n deep brown, for
he has spent every possible M
out of doors since congress went away,
and Mrs. Harding's recuperation be-
came pronounced. Ordinarily the pres
ident would have taken a trip some
where during this period of rest, but
the first lady's illness prevented that,
and il is in doubt that he will leave
w dSulUElOu at IN bChoAV ~
and the wandering senator's and repre-
sentatives return. There is more quiet
and seclusion to be had in the White
House than in any other Immediately
accessible place in the United States
and Mrs. Harding has had more com
forts and conveniences there during
her convalescing than would be avail
able anywhere else.
Washington Is Pleasant.
Life in Washington at this time OF
the year is far from unpleasant. The
golf courses are invitingly green de-
spite the long drought through which
this section of the country has passed,
the nights are cool and there is a snap
in the early morning air which is won
derfully invigorating. The president Is
an early riser, despite the TACT that the
White House Is seldom without COM
pany in the evening and no limit is
placed on the hour when friends shall
depart.
Reports reaching the president from
the congressional campaigns through
out the country are very r~eassuring
from his point of view. There are
unnuestionably a few bad spots" on
the political map of the G.. Q. F., but
the president says b republicans VIII
keep control of the house by more than
a substantial majority. In the senate
there has never been any doubt. Mr..
Harding. therefore, looks forward to
two more years of continued party con-
troll of the legislative and executive
branches of the government. Soon he
will begin the preparation of a legis-
lative program. 1t will not be 9
heavy one for he wants it all completed
and put away by March 4 next, so that
the people of the country can have nine
months rest from campaigns. 1t has
been a long time since the country has
known so inspiring n breathing spell
and from all indications the president
IS right in his assumption that the
country raves it.
People Little Interested
One of the reports which reach the
White House is that the people OF the
country are taking very little interest
in the campaign. This is a good slgI
for the republicans, for without interest
thew assume that the people are salts
fled with what has been going on and
will either vote to continue the present
regime or not vote at all. There are
many indications that the latter de-
cision will be reached by hundreds of
thousands of voters this fall and COM
p~arison with 1920 results will have to
be computed everywhere by percentage
rather than by the actual Ilgures OF
votes cast.
The election falling as late as the
calendar permits has resulted IN q
rather slow start to the campaign
There are four weeks in which to stir
up the voters and a good many spell
binders Of the paid and voluntary bri-
gades are girding their loins for the
fray.
The president at the present time has
no intention of being drawn into the
campaign. He does not think it be.
coming. He heartily disapproved OF
President Wilson's activities in the
campaign of 1918. An occasional let
ter written to a convention friend and
pointing with some degree of pride to
the record of the G. o. p. in the good
old Rooseveltian way, may yet get into
the campaign from the White oHuse.
That it is felt, would be only fair to
the party candidates. especially those
who may find themselves a bit hard
nracSad