Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-20
FROM REST AND GREEN PEACE
HARDING RETURNS TO BEDLAM
This 10 One Of the Times When No One
In His Senses Would Envy the Presi-
dent Of the United States

is the boss. He will be expected to repair
mechanism that clatters and grinds with
symptoms ominously suggestive of an ap-
preaching breakdown. His vacation in
Florida-and it IS runored that he took IL
TO escape for Il short interval from con-
fusion that had become intolerable to him
will do him little permanent good. For his
position now is no happier than Mr.. Will
sons was toward the close of The Demo-
cratic Administration.
II is, II anything. worse. For the prob
lens that crowd and shrick for solution in
Washington are immediate and pressing.
And they arc domestic problems. They
irritate and trouble and oppress the aver.
age man. who saw the war as a phenome-
non Of distractions and the League of Ma
,ions ns n distant and luminous vision.
There is none of the excitement and
elation of the war years to divert general
attention from affairs at home none Of the
false prosperity of the recent past to mol
lify restless and uncomfortable populn-
tion. The eyes Of the people are bent upon
Washington.
The people want things done That
Is. they want n business revival. better
view through the ugly fogs thut rise from
the sources Of industrial slackncss and
unrest. They want normally They want
TO hope for fairer distribution of tax bur-
dens and they want a better definition and
better treatment Of our International
affairs. They want TO know whether the
rresidcntS armament limitation policy is
t" be frustrated.
They are irritated by the endless noise in
Washington. SO they have begun to damn
Congress. That, Of course, is most unfair.
For Congress is of their own making. It
is their alter ego, their other self. They
elected it all by themselves. 1t isn't
pleasant thing 10 see. It's behavior is such
as to inspire despair rather than hope in
rational men
Under the spell of fears and concerns
strictly political. Senator's and Representa-
tves on both sides have thrown national
interest to the dogs. To add TO the turmoil,
scandal is brewing in Attorney General
Daugherty's office. The Treasury Depart
mont wants to be rid of the responsibilities
put upon it by the Nolstead law, and the
Anti Saloon League has announced that it
''will not consent 70 see the work OF pro-
hibition enforcement transferred to the De-
partment Of Justice
Mr.. Borah and Mr.. Lodge and some of
their chief aides have formed new and
startling alliance 10 wage war Of words
upon the allied Powers for the $24l 0OO, 900
due us for the maintenance Of our forces Of
occupation on the Rhine. We seem TO have
been shut ont of the European scheme Of
reparations payments. We may be shut out
of great many other schemes thanks TO
Mr.. Borah and his crowd.
Europe is being rcmodeied in the interests
Of the Allies Its new opportunities will be
distributed at the Genoa conference. in which
we have refused nusterely 10 81. Though we
remain aloof continue, as Il Nation, TO
insist that all our interests must b" pro-
tected by groups with which we Will not
condescend to confer. That is chiIdlike
proposal, reflective of "a more than childlik"
faith.
When Washington begins 10 ,aik 60 aim.
l"ssly il becomes plain that Washington
or let Ms say CongresS--h0s no policy of any
sort when Mr.. Harding attempts to meet
the deficiency as he has done on several
notable occasions - he is rebukcd by the
Senate and the halls OF Congress rcsOund
with noises of alarm. The world is such Il
dangerous place. saws Congress IN effect,
"that n step in any direction IS not 10 be
thought Of.
Undoubtedly this Congress .S unpnpulur
Its unpopuarity will extend TO the Admin
~ do
The Senate will not take advice from any-
body. 1t has challenged Harding and
thwarted him. II has contemptuously ig-
nored the advice II Hoover and every man
aware OF the realities Of the industrial sit
uation and common needs. The discussion
and criticism general in and out OF news
papers on rhe first income tax day of the
year made it plain thut the country is by
no means satisfied with the manner in which
ray burdens have been distributed And the
shrinknge by almost Il billion Of income tax
revenues must haV" startled Il Congress which
has been dreaming Of feeling bout for ways
10 add three or four billions TO the debt
which. must be paid through IL special taxa
tion in order TO quiet these groups of former
service men who demand bonuses
Congress has inspired in these groups hopes
and desires which it cannot satisfy. It's
members will have To suffer sooner or later
in one way or another for the cruelty, the
folly and the insincerity Of their attitude in
relation to the bonus. VIII their party
suffer, too?
Even the most temperate Republican
new wspWper~ AZ" saying that the present Con-
gross is the worst in history Congress, "
said Mr.. Gilbert IN his Saturday dispatch
from Washington. "ob"ys the slightest nod
Of the Anti Saloon League 1t isn't pleas
ant 70 think Of Congress obcylng mods from
anybody. What is 20 be done about il now?
What can Mr.. IInrding doT 1t is safe 10
assume that thc President oft Florida with
profound regret. For Congress is astray
and unmanagenble and II has no mind of its
own. But why should the people complain
now? Congress is their work. II didn't