South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-31
HARDING CONSIDERS
SPEAKING TOUR IN
WESTERN STATES
Might Benefit Sentiment on
Shipping Bill Trip Doubt
full, However.
By LOUIS LUDLOW

WASHINGTON. d. G, Dec "a
The advisabHity or presidential
speaking tour through the middle
west and the Rocky Mountain reg
ION 90 bolster up the Ehip-su bsidy
bill now before the senate i5 being
discussed IA high administration
circles. II is known that the presi-
dent himself has been giving con-
sideraaon 20 the suggestion and
that Some OF his close advisers have
Endorsed the proposed trip. while
others nave given the opinion. after
weighing all phases Of the matter,
that nothing would be gained by
this extra presidential effort to
boost the bill along
The theory OF those who propose
the trip Is that the president would
be able 10 arouse public sentiment
behind the bin which does not now
exist and that the interest that
would be kindled among the folks
at home might be very helpful in
securing enough votes In the SEN
ate TO put the bin through by a
tight squeeze.
Indifference" is the mildest term
that can be used IN describing the
attitude OF the midwest and gem
orally OF the interior OF the coun-
try. toward the ship-subs.dy bill. In
many sections there is underneath
he superficial appearance OF indif-
ference a deep-seated hostility. The
feeling that pervades the interior is
that a ship subsidy would be a spe-
ciat privilege TO a favored class at
the expense OF the general taxpay-
ers and that nothing else can be
made out OF It.
Might Benefit Subsidy
Some OF Pres't Harding's advisers
think-and the president undoubt-
eddy shares this view-that IN a
series OF speeches he could present
the ship-subsidy question TO the
people IN a way that would remove
much OF the hostility. even among
the farmers, where opposition Is
most deeply rooted The president
would deal with the subject from
a national viewpoint. explaining
how. In his opinion, adequate ocean
carrying facilities operated under
the American flag would benefit all
Of America by opening up foreign
markets for the products OF Ameri-
can industry and agriculture. and
that the farmers would be among
those directly and substantially
benefited
Those who think the proposed
tour would be inexpedient and in
advisable point out that certain
senators have set out with grim
determination TO kill the ship-sub-
sidy bill: that the constitutions
time-llmit on the life Of the session
operates in their favor; that a few
men working under an agreed ar
rangement OF relieving one another
can d1lfbuster the bill TO death by
holding up all bills and creating a
= fam that must be broken by Mar
if the supply bills. carrying the
life-blood OF the government. are to
be passed and that In view OF al
OF these obstacles the ship subsidy
has a mighty slim show. indeed.
What position would the presi-
dent be in II he should carry the
Bhip-subsidy fight TO the country In
a speaking tour and lose out, after
alp" these advisers are asking
They answer their own question by
saying that undoubtedly it would
weaken his influence and diminish
his power TO accomplish other
things that are OF vital Importance
10 the country.
Avoid big Stick"
1 Then there IS the objection, which
kprobably has the most weight with
Pres't Harding, that a speaking
tour Of this kind, obviously intend
ed 10 bring public sentiment 70
play on the senate, would savoI
too much Of executive coercion oil
the law-making body. Against
thar sort Of performance Pres
Harding stands committed by re-
peated utterances. dating backward
&c the very beginning OF his ad-
ll1inistration Some presidents
whose names might be mentioned
have found exhilaration and amuse-
ment in swinging the big stick or
congress but Pres't Harding himself
only a few years removed from the
senate. has consistently taken the
position that the law-making body
should have absolute freedom to at