Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-14
Has the President Seen the Light?

NJ OTHING has been more evident to the
country mt large than the lack of
force that has marked tho course Of the
present administration from its very begin
ming. 1t has shown none OF the essential
elements Of strong and resourceful leader
ship that the American people expect in the
man elevated to the highest office withip
their gift, and which Congress expects from
the White House.
IT is true, as has been often observed. that
the Administrations foreign policies have
been ably conceived and successfully exc
cCtcd. Nor is the fact that the President
and his Secretary of State boldly champ
toned many of the principles laid down by
the former administration. to be mentioned
in dcrogation of the present regime. In
approving and i'll promoting those policies
Mr. Harding and Mr.. Hughes showed rare
breadth Of vision.
But when il comes to an appraisal of tho
domestic program of the administration.
criticism need not be partisan to be sincere.
Failure has been the rule, rather than the
exception, and this failure is chargeable in
large measure to Mr.. Harding himself His
plans may have been good. His intentions
may have been better. But his execution
has been unfortunate.
All this goes back to the curious attitude
which he assumed even before he was in
Quoted into office. He declared as a candi-
date and with great fervor that, if eleced
he would remove the hands of the executive
from the processes of legislation. He would
not attempt TO influence either the House
or the Senate except through formal mes
sage. He would restore 10 those bodies full
independence OF action, intimating that they
had been made the victims Of an autocracy
which had grown up in the executive end
Of the government
Carrying out this poicy--and it was her
aided a policy OF highest import-the
President left Congress free to function in
its own way. Almost Immediately the House
and Senate split into factions. Groups and
blocs grew up. Able leadership within
those bodies was absent and the result was
complete breakdown in party action and
party responsibility.
At tho moment the White House and Con-
gress find themselves in deadlock on the
soldier bonus issue The President after
vacllatng for months, pronounced a policy.
But it was too late. Congress had taken
him at his word and had gone about the
business Of Legislation without regard to
| him. 1t Is still doing it, proceeding, it may
| he assumed, on the broad proposition that in
the end he will retreat and approve what
ever may be handed TO him.
1t was at this point that the President
took his bag in hand and left town. He
went on vacation" He had informed all
corners where he stood upon the bonus and
other issues, and in departing without notice
tic anybody, lie let those whom he left be-
hind understand that they might take or
leave what he had proposed. II they took
his plan, all might be we'll. If they ignored
1t, then they must assume the risks involved
TO run away may not be an accepted method
of dealing with such a situation as exists
but IL very clearly indicates that the exc
cutive hit upon a new means of impressing
his party Associates with certain convictions
which he entcrtains