The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-07-15

malcy 1t has brought a maelstrom of
worries and unsolved problems
Senator Lodge talked with the exec
utive for half an hour. The object of
his errand was to tell Mr.. Harding that
many Republicans would like to side
track the ship subsidy bill and do sundrv
things with reference to the tariff and
the bonus on which Mr. Harding's ad-
vice was desirable The President knew
from the newspaper accounts of the Re
publican conference held during his alb
sence in Marion just what are the plans
of the leaders so he pleaded excessive
work on the rail- and coal strike situa-
tons as "a legitimate reason for declin-
ng to enter into a discussion at this time
on the legislative situation.
Practically all the time Mr.. Harding
has been back from Marion has been
consumed in either the railroad or coal
situations and he hadn't had an Oppor-
tunity to check up by personal confer
ance with friends on Capitol Hill to
earn just what is the situation.
Unparalleled Congestion
The congestion of problems is unpar-
tlled. 1t looks more like wartime here
han peacetime. The coal operators and
miners are mulling over the Presidents
proposal Tor arbitration by commission.
Inc railroad situation is getting worse.
NarShalS and deputy marshals are I'M
troops are being held in readiness for ac-
ION Mr.. Harding has tried to be de-
llberate and patient There are those
who think he should have insisted upon
immediate acceptance or rejection of the
plan he offered to the coal miners and
operators and threatened action by con
9resS as possible solution if the parties
.iidn't agree. The delay given in con-
sidering the plan of the President has
resulted in inevitable raising of obstacles
and barriers in both camps.
Delay. moreover. in despatching fed
eral troops to trouble areas on the rail-
roads may prove injurious judging from
the pleas coming from affected zones.
The government has been loath to in,
servene with the full weight of its au-
thOrity but the situation is rapidly com
pelling such a step. Aside from the
critical developments in the rail and
coal strikes the entire legislative pro-
gram on which the Republican party
had expected to go to the country in the
autumn elections is in jeopardy Mr.
Harding wants elasticity in tariff max
ing so as to make the schedules conform
TO inevitable changes in economic con-
ditions. Republicans are themselves di-
vided on the merits of various schedule, ]
either now being debated or as yet NOT
formally before the senate Mr.. Hard
'ng may have TO be the arbiter of the
differences. Some of the disputes are
so serious that many Republicans would
prefer to Sldetraek the tariff until after
the elections. The agitation for a sol
der bonus law is undiminished and the
champions of the measure want to see
action no matter what HAPPENS TO the
tariff. On top of this is the ardent de-
ire of the President to put through the
ship subsidy bill as a constructive
achievement Mixed up i'm the problem
IS the wet and dry fight over the sale IF
liquor on government vessels outside the
5hree-mile limit The house of repre-
sentatives is in a recess until Aug. Is
waiting for the senate TO pass the many
bills already acted upon by the house.
Should the measure of the lower house
come back and find little accomplished
since they left the capitol the dissatis-
faction over the senate delays is bound
to grow.
Aggressive Leadership Needed
Opportunities for decisive action and
aggressive leadership on the part of the
chief executive are numerous. Congress
is drifting along lines of least resistance.
If it could have its way ii would patch
up the tariff bill hastily, pass the bonus
and adjourn by Sept. l to give time for
campaigning The President has said
ne would call congress into extra ses-
sion at once if il failed to act on the
ship subsidy measure. He cannot af
lOIu TO retreat anu MS UdTlA uUHS not
dare TO administer defeat to his lead
ership Just before the elections in which
he whole Republican party will again
ask for support.
Industrial strife, political dissatisfac-
ton, legislative tangles, midsummer tenn
peratures all combine to bring the eli
max of the administration not quite two
years after its election.
Primary results are being analysed to
discover national trends but without at
tempting to say what the future holds
IN store politically. the facts of todays
crisis force the conclusion that the
Harding administration will be made or
hrnken ON what II doc in the nnNt tLrea