The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-23
HARDING DEP ARTS FROM AM|ABLE WAY
 AND BECOMES TYRO
Attitude About Ship Subsidy Bill and Toward Newspaper Men Significant of Hard
 ing's Transformation
By HUGH W. ROBERTS

VI ASuluBlOn oureau+ The AEe-HerHl0,
 800 Davidson BuiIdins.
 Washington, June 22.-(Special. ) President Harding has not been transformed from an amiable, sweet ly disposed gentleman into political tyro. Such transformation would be impossible, for the President is entirely lacking in the Rooseveltian and Wilsonian temperament.
 But the President Is unhappy. His disappointment has prompted him on more than one recent occasion to enter mild protests, His dejection Is precipitated by a singularly incom- petent leadership in Congress-; by resulting failure of effective func- tioning; by the pickering of his for mer Congressional mainstays; by the Iselfishness of politicians rendered visible by the approach of elections; by the defeat of his friends and the appearance of the rising cloud of progressivism; by the scandals which seem to beset his administration; by evidences of his misplaced faith; by the weather. and by all the other ills which afflict man in power.
 But the President does not intend to wield the "big stick" It is prob able that he couldn't. even If he de- sired to do so. That he does not so desire, it known to be true
 Harding On Warpath
 Quite recently reports have eman- ated from Washington that MT. Harding was on the warpath. They were based on two incidents. The President informed leaders of the House that unless the ship subsidy bill were enacted there would be the necessity of-an extraordinary session. This was not a threat. It was mere- ly the statement of a fact as the President saw it.
 The other incident was even less significant The President, while talking with newspaper men, ap- peared distressed that the public was given that which the public appar-
 
 rather than constructive or ed- ucational stuff" He referred to the fact that any charge that anybody might make against a man in public life was taken, apparently. at face value andsgiven wide publicity. There is no question but that the President was speaking from a heart grieved by the plight in which his attorney general had hurled himself. But he was talking heart to heart with newspaper men and he Is really one of them--of a condition. There Is absolutely no truth in the deduction that the President was attempting to gag the press and prevent free speech in America.
 Reports to that effect. however. went throughout the country. They stung the President to the quick.
 Plays Press at False
 When the newspaper correspond ents were next gathered around the President. he referred to the false deductions which had been drawn from his heart-tosherrt comments on conditions. His countenance was gloomy. His voice was deep and resonant. When someone defended that which had been done, the Presi- dent shook his head dolefully. He expressed the fear that local Scorre- spondents were not the "good fel- lows" he had always considered them.
 President Harding -vould not gag the press. He is a newBpaper man of highest ethics, and as such is Jealous of all the prerosatives of tho press. His temperament, were he otherwise disposed. would prevent hfa rnovAment araiuet the nreas of the country. He does not intend to