The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-03-10
Review Work AccompIis :
d. ed During That Time
FACED MANY PROBLEMS
Entered Office After Biggest War
la History ans Eight Years
Democracy
RAYMOND CEAPPER

harding toua! fOunueu out ms NfSt
year as president of the tinted
states
When he orGc,ed the whit! house
gates swung open on his return from
the inauguration ceremonies 1t the
capitol year ago, ne let in food
OF problems which A3ve driven him at
hard pace. 1t has beer year filled
with many achievementS-the most
outstanding being the armament con
ference-and some disappointments.
Entering office after the biggest
war in HISTORY and eight years of
Democratic rule. Presiden. Harding
found himself entangied in many pc
culiar problems OF craftsmanship and
politics which have tested him and
his advisors TO the utmost.
Friends and enemies alike 10 day
were scanning the record OF the first
year closely day 10 see how far
Harding had gone in making good his
campaign promise to bring about a
return 10 normally" for his record
will be the chief issue in the congress
sioBal campaign which is already
stirring to life.
While President Harding's critics
insist that the return is yet to be
achieved, his supporters declare lat
Roadway has been made as fast as the
unprecedented economic wreckage left
by the war permitted.
The armament conference which
dissolved the Anglo Japanese alliance
providing for scrapping of sixty eight
year naval holiday, stands by common
consent as the biggest achievement
OF the Harding regime to date.
Adoption of the budget system of
controlling government expenses is
accepted as the most fundamental step
in domestic affairs
international Affairs
President Harding's first request of
Congress after inauguration was that
The Knox peace resolution be adopted
to end the anamolous situation Great
ed by the rejection OF tie Versailles
treaty. This resolution, adopted by
the extra session of congress called
chiefly for this purpose, was signed
July By President Harding. Nego-
iiation and ratification Of separate
treaties with the Central Powers pre-
serving to the United States all rights
IN which il would have been entitled
~ ratification OF the Versailles treaty
followed
The decks thus cleared of the last
w'eckage OF the war, President Hard
ing began quite feelers which led to
10 call for the conference on limita :
ito OF armament which brought rep
reseniatiVes of the five leading world
powers to Washington for three
months conference to reduce the bur
den OF naval armament, restrict use
of submarines and poison gases in
war, and adjust troublesome ques-
lions in the ar East, including Shan
tung and the open door in China.
Other developments in the field of
foreign affairs during the year in
clude:
Ratification of the Columbian treaty
awarding $4,000, 900 damages grow
ing out of the Panama revolution dur
ing the Roosevelt administration.
Settlement of the Panama Costa
Rican boundary dispute by diplomatic
pressure and dispatch OF marines
which forced Panama to yield her
claims.
Negotiation of a treaty with Japan
defining American rights in zap.
Invitation TO Chile and Peru TO hold
conference in Washington for settle
ment OF Tacna africa boundary dis
pute.
Proposal OF treaty with Mexico to
insure protection of American rights
as condition of recognition.
Appropriation OF $20o00,000 for
famine relief il Russia
Domestic Legislation
Immediately after Inauguration
President Harding called an extra ses-
sion of Congress to adopt a resolu
ton o. peace with Germany and to
enact emergency tariff legislation. AS
this session merged into the regular
session early last Decent Der, Congress
has been almost continuously at work
since Harding assumed Office, turning
out steady stream OF laws. The more
important legislation includes:
Ilmersency tariff act providins
create protection for farm products
and other commodities.
Revised tax law repeating the ex-
cess profits leVies. scaling down the
income surfaces and abolishing "nui-
sance" taxes,
Restriction or immigration
Budget system.
Regulation of grain exchanges.
Regulation CT meat packing indus
try.
Establishment OF Veterans Service
Bureau.
Maternity aid.
Creation of agricultural credit re-
volvins fund Of 100000 10 he ad-
ministered through War Finance Cor
poration.
ing OF beer for medical purposes and
further. Tightening prohibition en-
fOrcement.
Appropriation Of s75,OOoooo to aid
road building. H.
Reorganization Of Indian Bureau
Authorization OF complete Alaskan
railroad. 49,.
Allied debt refundiog bill providing
commission tc negotiate Tor repay
inent Of war loans.
Appropriation OF S25 600. 900 FOR
Russian famine relief.
Measure ID encourage co cooperative
marketing among farmers
Placing ali additional member OH
Federal Reserve Board with under
standing that Tie will represent agri-
culture.
Several other important pieces OF
legislation have passed only one house
such as tho Panama Canal free toll
bill now sheiyed in the House. the
permanent tariff bill now in the Sen
ATE finance committee. and inc $500,
100000 railroad relief bill
HaTG;ngs path has hccu stormy in
SPOTS and there are many qualls still
in sight due to difference ir view
p0ilt between the White House and
The Capitol The most omipous OF
these i, the boDEs Issue which has
raised the widest breach between the