New-York tribune., 1922-10-16
Nations Quick Recovery
From War Due 10 Labor
of Last Two Sessions,
Letter, to Monden Says
Presidents Action
Surprises Capital
Endorsement Recites That
Army and Navy Costs
Are Normal; Big Saving

'@AoAAAA$0 AO4S, OCC. IO.-Ine
record OF the last two Congresses in
handling postwar problems conl-
pares brilliantly, President Harding
declared tonight in letter written
to Republican Leader Mondell of the
House, with the record made by any
other country. The President cites
the handling of the reconstruction
problems after the Civil War as a
demonstration of how well this Con-
gress has done its tasks, and calls
the achievements notablea
The President lays particular
stress on the economies in the adj
ministration of the government eff.
fected by Congress. He points to
the fact that the imitation and defia-
tion, which has caused so much
havoc abroad, has been borne in this
country without even menace to
our gold-standard money system"
"The war debt" he says, "has been
impressively reduced, and policies
adopted which insure continuing re-
duction hereafter.
Military Expenses Back to Normal
Military and naval expenses, the
President points out, are back at nor
NAL, in striking contrast with the budg-
cts OF the other beaigerents in the
World War.
In praising t. e new tariff, which he
Gays cuts off the menace to American
commerce and industry, the President
ruts stress on the machinery for ad-
m'n.stratiye adjustment Of duties to
rect chsnging conditions as they con-
front this government.
Il believe that by inaugurating this
policy of fiexibility and elasticity"
says the President on this feature, 1--WE
have set an example which the com
mercial world will acceptas truly
constructive foundation on which to
rest our commercial policy
The Presidents letter tonight was
big surprise in politial circles. 1t
had been thought that he would take no
active part in the campaign. Indeed,
the President has indicated to several
callers in the last month that he bore
viyidly in mind the disastrous effects
of President Wilson's appeal for q
Democratic Congress in 1918 Presi-
dent Harding's letter, however, differs
very sharply from the 1918 effort of
Woodrow Wilson. In the first place, it
Is not an appeal at all in direct sense.
Nowhere in the letter is the approach
ing election even referred to. It is
the kind of statement usually made by
party leaders at the end of session
OF Congress in which they have taken
some pride in the results accomplished.
Differs from Wilson Appeal
A most significant difference, too. Is
that the Harding letter makes no re-
Election on the ability or patriotism Of
the Democrats. President Wilson's let
ter in 1913 was taken as direct af-
front by most Republicans, and re-
suited in their swarming to the polls
and administering the first big political
defeat which Woodrow Wilson ever
suffered.
The Presidents letter to Mr.. MondelI
reads as follows:
4 am addressing you in testimony
OF my appreciation of the great public
service Of the present House of Rep
resentatives and of yourself as it's
majority leader. 1t is an acknowl-
edgment which I record in this
manner with the more satisfaction
because of my warm personal SEN
timent for yourself, as we'll as my :
high estimate Of your performance
in the most trying post under our
government. 1t has been q pleasure
and reinsurance to know that your
fine resources of patience, sound
Judgment, candor and legislative ex-
perience were always ready for aps
plication to the problems which have
confronted the Administration,
Few Congresses have been called
upon for such arduous service as mas
been exacted from the Sixty-seyenth.a J.
1t has been in, approximately con-
tinuous sitting from tho day it came
into existence. In the realm Of
achievement its record is notable.
doubt it any Congress in our hiss
tory has accomplished so impressive
a volume OF work, touching so wide :
a range Of national interest.
Cites Civil War Confusion
s. One must dissent from the too
prevalent idea that our plan of
Congressional government is not
proving equal to the strain OF these
times. The most casual student Aef
history, comparing the legislative
record of the reconstruction period
following the Civil War with that
Of the period following the World
War. must realize that we have gone
far toward lessening partisan, fac
tional, personal and sectional strife
in the lawmaking process. Whoever
will compare the turbulent period Of
Legislative ard political history from
the close of the Civil War to the end
of President Hayesss Administers
tion with the record made since the
arinistice four years ago must agree
with this judgment. He will find in
the eariier period such convu1sions
as marked the impeachment Of ons,s
President, an embittered national
election contest and prevalent con-
iict between Legislative and execu-
tive branches. Contrasted with that
showing the buginesslike fashion in.
f which the. .Sixty-seventh Congress hRa
addressed itself To its huge task
ought to inspire us with the coA-s
viction that conditions nowadays sre
met quite as fortunately as may hs
expected. 49, -
Moreover, Cisil War reconstruction
was simpler than that reconstrac-
ton we are now carrying on, hecaase
following the Civil War it was pcs-
sibie for oar country to lean upon
A. - ~