Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-23
HARDING SHOULD READ
THE RIOT ACT TO CONGRESS
The Presidents Functions Are Threat.
ened and National safety lnpsrllsd
BY Our Leadsriess and Vision.
leaa Leolalatoro
less Legislator

" OuV A0UOOVs0Uo oVu
less Legislators
DRESIDENT HARDING Is an amiable
1 man disinclincd to strife. but 1t is pos
siblc that Congress may push him so for ns
to arouse his lighting spirit.
lie entered Office with the determination
to respect the rights Of Congress and to
rrfrain from giving reason for the kind Of
criticism that was directed against Presi-
dent Wilson.
In the year since he has been In Office
Congress has been magnifying its powers and
assuming that it is supreme in the Govern
ment. The Senate adopted II reservation to
the irraty with Germany providing that no
American representative should sit In the
Rcpnrations Commission. This was clearly
an invasion Of the Presidents discretion
IN the conduct Of foreign affairs. Whether
We should be represented and how was prop
erlr matter in the discretion Of the Ex-
csutive. But the President. for reasons
that seemed good TO hin, made no serious
protest against this curtailment OF his
powers. Az n result We nrc handicapped
now In our efforts 20 collect S24l .OoW.Om
from Germany TO pay for the maintenance
OF our troops on the Rhine.
The House, seeing how easily the Senate
accomplished It's invasion Of the Presidents
functions. Is preparing to interfere with the
Executive control Of the army and the navy.
There IL n group of Representatives seeking
to reduce the number Of soldiers and sailors
below the point of national safety. 1t Is
going even farther than that. for 1t Is pro-
posing to order the President to recall oil
troops from China. from Hawaii. from the
Canal Zone md from the Rhine.
The distribution Of the troops properly
hn1op0o to tbo apIo tn sof IIp
must have the widest possible discretion in
this matter II the national interests are to
be protected. II he has to ask Congress
whether he mny Increase or reduce the size
OF the legation garrison in China or the
number OF men needed to take care Of the
Notifications in Hawaii or in the Canal
Zone he ceases to be the commander. in.
chief and the duties of that Office are per-
formed BY Congress.
President Harding has definitely an
nounccd that II Congress attempts to cxer-
else this authority It would necessarily be
disputed" 1t remains to be seen how far
he would 60 in his dispute. lie could veto
the bill recalling the troops. but his veto
might be ovcrridden. Then the test would
come.
Andrew Jackson. it will be recalled. once
defed the Supreme Court when 1t sought
to reverse some net Of his that was within
his discretion. Jackson remarked when lie
heard Of the court decision: THAT Is John
Marshalls opinion. Now let's see him
enforce IT. Marshall did not enforce it.
Would President Harding keep the troops
in China and the other plnces where he
thought they were needed? Secretary
Weeks would undoubtedly cooperate with
him to the full extent Of his ability. and
every citizen with any proper conception OF
the constitutional powers Of the Executive
would support the President and the Sec
retary of War.
This whole movement to reduce the size
OF the army and the navy and to dictate to
the President regarding the disposition Of
the military forces and to isolate the coun.
try has It's origin among the Little American
pncifsts. They do not want any army or
navy. They do not want the United States
to have any dealings with any other nation.
but they wish 1t to remain isolated on this
continent Agreements with other nations
to cooperate IN keeping the peace of the
world are abhorrent to them. They fought
the Versailles Treaty and they are now
fighting the Four Power Treaty.
They do not seem to understand that II
we are to be isolated II will be necessary
to maintain n large defensive force against
the rest of the world. or that If we make
peace agreements with other nations the
defensive force cnn be reduced to mini
mum. They do not seem to recall that
bitter experience has proved the folly Of
Mr.. Bryan's fantastic notion that we could
raise an army of ! ,OO0. 900 men overnight
which might rush in jtneys to threatened
point In time to defend II.
1t may be necessary for Mr.. IIarling ts
take Congress by the collar and shake some
sense into It. Congress lacks both vision
and leadership at the present time. 1t has
no perception Of the great issues involved
in our foreign relations. or even in the do
mestc questions Of taxation, and is blunder-
ing along without regard to the consc-
1uences.