The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-06-29
Up To CONGRESS
To KEEP PLEDGES
PRECEDENT THINKS " WILL VET
REDEEM ITseLF. BUT He o.
cLINes TO DICTATE.
HIS PROGRAM NOT EQUIvocAL
Harding Has Given the Law Makers
Clear List Of Recommendation for
Legislation and Leaves the Full Re-
sponsibiilty on Them.
BY JAMES p. HoRNApAV


met say the President believes this
congress will yet redeem itself. And,
furthermore, he believes, according to
these same members. that II the legis-
lative body does redeem itself In the
estimation Of the public without any
assistance from the executive branch
Of the government, a long and impOr-
tant step will have been taken toward
bringing the two branches Of the gov
eminent back to the relationship which
the Constitution Intended should exist
between them.
IL on the other hand. the President
should at this time step In and ex-
ert the powerful influence which q
President always has at his command.
and thereby force the legislative body
to do his bidding. the congress would
find Itself on q lower level than ever
before. Az one member Of the cab
met put II. the President 10 trying to
help the congress get back to the
place In the scheme Of government
which 1t is entitled to occupy. The
remarkable thing about the situation
IN, Il Is pointed out. that the Repub-
Leans in the legislative body do not
seem to have any real appreciation Of
what the President Is trying to do.
Day by day the Republican leaders In
the two houses run to the White
House and In effect say to the Presi-
dent: ''If you do not assert leadership
we shall make q complete failure Of
everything. We simply cannot 60 ahead
unless you come to our rescue"
The Presidents answer to all this Is
chat the party Of which he is the THU
lar head In the last presidential cam
paign asked for votes and undoubtedly
received them on the strength Of a
promise that should the party succeed
In the national election, the relation
ship which the makers of the Consti-
tuition said should exist between the
legislative and executive branches Of
the government would be promptly re-
stored. This was not only a party
promise, the President points out, but
It was a personal promise on his part.
And whatever betides. the President is
saying to legislative callers, he in
tends to live up to the promise.
HardIne's Advice Has Been Specific.
It can be said for President Har
ding. and. indeed. should be said for
him, that no President within recent
generations has given the legislative
branch Of the government a clearer list
Of recommendations. When he called
the present congress In extra SEES
sion last year, he told It what he
thought II ought to do. Then when
the regular session came on in Deem
Der last year. he submitted a definite
legislative. program which embed.
led a large number Of recommended
lions. From time to time since the
regular session opened. he has made
recommendation that did not equivo-
cate
In the Ia months since the congress
came together II has carried out really
only one recommendation Of large I'm
pOrtance. that for adoption of the
budget system. No congress ever had
finer opportunity to make a great
record for itself. With an absolutely
free hand. II could have carried
out the Presidents recommendations
promptly. or 1t could have improved on
them. which would have been better
still.
Puts Responsibility on Congress.
Obviously the Republican leaders
are trying 10 draw the President into
a position with respect to ship subsidy
legislation which would not be consist.
ent with his determination to put the
responsibility for the enactment Of leg
islatiOn on congress. During the last
few days some OF the Republicans
leaders have said In effect to the Pres
ldent that unless he asserts his lead
ership" there will be no subsidy legis.
lation at this session. II there is any
legislation the President desires above
other before this session ends, Il IL
ship subsidy legislation. but he does
not propose to go farther than he has
already gone In presenting the subject
to congress. His attitude is that II
congress will not deal with the sub
ject. the responsibility will be on con-
gress, and not on him.
In all these circumstances, the pub
lie must deem II strange that some In
telllgent leadership is not developed
In the legislative body. In the sen
ate, Henry Cabot Lodge OF Massachu-
sets was by the votes OF Republican
senators chosen leader. but In this po-
sitlon he has been an absolute failure
Close political friends OF his In his
own state are now calling on him to
step forward and show that he really
possesses some of the elements OF lead
ership. They are saying TO him that
he can make his reelection next fall
sure by taking hold Of the senate sit
ustion and bringing some semblance
OF order out OF the existing chaos. In
the house of representatives the situa.
ton Is even worse. The call Is not for
q dictator In the senate or q dictator
In the house. but for wise. far-seeing
statesmsnllke leadership
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