Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-12-09

It always has insisted on the unre
stricted right to quit work in a
body. The president hopes to soften
the effects of this enforcement policy
by limiting the disputes to be con
sidered by the national tribunal 10
those which ARE likely to affect the
public welfare" Definition of this
phrase will probably provoke consid.
cradle debate and controversy.
Mr. Harding doesn't ignore the
sentiment in favor of a change in
the tariff and promises that the tiexi'
BILE provisions of the law permitting
the executive to proclaim changes
will not become a dead letter. Immi
grafton is touched on, too, with the
suggestion that quotas be enlarged
ultimately and that aliens be exam.
lned abroad so as to prevent hard,
ships at ports of entry through the
denial of admission to applicants
who have already made the voyage
to American shores.
Child Labor Proposal
The proposal to submit a consti.
tutional amendment prohibiting child
labor is not unexpected and will help
friends of the president to point to
the progressive" character of his
administration, especially at a time
when the progressive" bloc is advo
eating such things.
Mr.. Harding frankly tells the
American people he isn't opposed &c
amending the constitution when the
changes are for the better. 1t hao
been reported that he wanted t.
stand pat on the constitution. But
he proposes that all tax exempt
securities now be abolished. 1t will
take many years for an amendment
like that to be submitted to the sew.
eral states and ratified but ultimate.
ly it will prevail as it falls within
the category of progressive" doc
trine on which the radicals have al
ways thrived--jt is a measure aim
ed at the wealthy, something popu
lar with the radical politicians in
the states. 1t has the support of Mr..
Harding, however, because he
thinks it will increase government
revenue at a time when the budget
sorely needs added sources of in
come.
For Dry Law Enforcement
The prohibition portions of the
message contain a few surprises.
The president had been reported
weakening on the Volstead law. II
had been said he noted a shift OF
sentiment in the last elections. He
comes out in his message as favor
ing a rigorous enforcement of the
Volstead act. He frankly says the
provisions of the law are not in his
opinion contrary to public desire. He
predicts that repeal of the eight
zenith amendment is not likely and
asks for literal enforcement Be
sides, Mr.. Harding announces that
he will call. the governors of all the
states into conference here to con
slider ways and means of enforcing
the prohibition laws through the in
creased use of state machinery.
The message is a complete victory
for the "drys." There isn't a hint of
wetness in it. Broadly speaking this
means that Mr.. Harding wants the
Republican party to stand pat on
the prohibition issue believing pub
lie sentiment to be on that side. The
Democrats will naturally discuss
whether to take the other portion of
the dilemma. Their greatest strength
in the eastern states has been ac-
quired through wet votes. Some
Democratic leaders think a union of
the solid south and the populous
eastern states is enough to elect,
a wet president. They think the
south, which is dry, will not object,
however. to modification of the Vol
stead act to permit the sale of wine
and beer. This is all theoretical
What Mr.. Harding has done. how
ever, is to align his party on the dry
side by his message to congress.
AS for international affairs, the
president still maintains that Amer
lea need not take a concrete stand
in European affairs, proposing that
American foreign policy be based
so far as helping Europe is con-
cerned on sympathy, fraternity and
"a h oh ~,