Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-18
SCENE IN CONGRESS
As HARDING SPEAKS
nv n star Correspondent

Washington, Aug. 1S. - Twelve
o'clock noon today In the House OF
Representatives. The seats are about
half filed Two vacant rows down
front are reserved for Senators and the
Cabinet. "Jim'' Davis, the iron pud-
dlcr. who became Secretary Of Labor,
chats with Andrew Mellon. the banker.
who became Secretary Of the Treasury.
Everybody waiting for President
Harding. lie IL coming to the Capitol
10 address Congress on the industrial
situation.
Rumors fly about that the strike con.
ferees in New York have struck snag.
Just when things appeared most prom.
Using.
President Harding has sent his mes.
sage back to the printer. 1t has to be
revised
1910 p. M.--Democrats are talking
about demanding quorum. 1t is
doubtful If there is one present. a quo
rum cnll would take forty minutes. The
President IL due in five. The Democrats
decide to be good and not press the
point. The House heavcs sigh Of re-
lief.
Mrs. Harding Present
12:13--Work, Wallace. Hoover have
arrived. Here comes Mrs. Harding. She
enters the executive gallery. "Al"
Laskcr, chairman Of the Shipping
Board, is with her. AIS Jud Wclliver,
who helps write the Presidents
speeches. and Major Mitchell, the Pres
ident's aide. General Sawyer Is pres
, cnt in white duck, the army summer
uniform. lie Is personal physician to
| t.,
needs him. He Is strong and healthy.
2:1S-"The House will be in or
der" Speaker Gillett hopes, rs he taps
his gavel. The doors to the main cor
ridor open. The Senate has arrived.
It is five minutes late. Secretary of the
Interior Fall. who used to be n Senator,
comes in with his old colleagues. The
Senate sits and speaker Gillett names n
committee to escort the President into
the chamber. The President waits in
the lobby.
12:24-"Mr. Speaker. the President
Of the United States Galleries and
members rise. They applaud for half
minute. The President begins his
address. ten minutes behind his
schedule.
12 2:25--President Harding looks fit.
Also cool. lie wears n blue serge coat,
white flannel trousers, white canvas
shoes. He is Il handsome figure.
(P. S.-Mrs. Harding is gowned in
| blue.)
12 :2S-"Young T. R. acting ruler
Of the American Navy, sits beside Ills
sister. Alice Roosevelt. ruler of Mich
olas I.ongworth. member of Congress
from Ohio.
AppIaus. More Applause
- :35-President Harding asks for
q commission to investigate all phases
OF the coal mining industry. production.
distribution. sale. Such an invcstiga-
ton would be interesting. The commits
sion would recommend legislation ITO
protect the American public the Pres
idet says. That brings the first ap-
plause during the address.
10 :4O-"The authority of the Rail-
way Labor Board must be sustained as
the law contemplated" says the Pres
ident. More applause. Partitudes are
popular.
long. His audience is getting restless.
/ They are NOT interested in history.
Here's a break-the first real demon
stration-three of them-as President
Harding declares no body Of men will
be permitted to inperil the public well
ware. He shakes the big stick. The
public likes it.
l =. M.-"Butchery of human be-
ings' must be punished, says the Presi-
| dent. referring to the mine murders at
Herrin. H., an gets more applause
from Congress. 'i'hc Federal Govern
ment has no authority to punish muir
! derers of aliens. Several Presidents
have asked for it. from Tyler to Taft.
Harding adds his appeal to theirs. He
is nearing tn" end of his speech.
:O4-1ie has finished. His speech
lasted forty-t five minutes. Government
by law must and will be sustained, +"
he says. II am resolved to use all the
power of the Government to maintain
transportation. and sustain the right
OF men to work. 1t is the duty of IL
President to enforce the laws. pres.
dent Harding has said he will
Senator's and other guests leave rap
idly. Three minutes and the House
! adjourns.