Evening star., 1922-11-04
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

stream with the tides of his own
party running against him.
Personally popular. respected and
esteemed, Mr.. Harding has failed to
convince many of the influential lead
ers of the republican party that he
has made the best use of his oppor-
tunities in the last two years. They
are not ready to say he shall not be
nominated for second term In 1924
they are sympathetic with any eff
fort he may make in the next two
years to retrieve his mistakes. and
they wish him success because they
would rather renominate him than
face contest inside the party. but
the prevailing impression among the
leaders is that Mr.. Harding is not
sufficiently aggressive. not possessed
of enough initiative to lead the party
in these most trying years of re-
generation
For the republican party is in pro-
cess of evolution. Leadership never
was more essential. The nation is
aching to be led-it is tired of fol-
and 1t is even more tired of Congress
and its dilatory ways. President
Harding is being criticized more for
his lack of leadership than any one
thing. The country accepted at first
his argument that the legislative and
executive branches of the govern
ment should be kept independent. but
now il believes Mr.. Harding has taken
his own doctrine too literally.
We voted in 1920" said one re-
publican editor. Ito do away with
the dictatorship of Woodrow Wilson.
but We didn't expect the pendulum
To swing back the other way al
together. We must have oneman
leadership
Sentiment Generally Same.
And that expresses the sentiment
of most republican leaders with
whom the writer has talked-they
think Mr.. Harding has made his
greatest mistake by allowing Congress
to run its own course without re-
gard to the best interests of the
party. AS il in illustration Of this
point. republican chieftains without
exception. and dozens of editors. un-
apimously agree that Mr.. Harding 8
veto of the bonus was the most
popular act of his administration.
Why? Because he overrueld Con-
gress. Because he took the bit in
his teeth and did courageous thing
in a political year Because he fol-
lowed his convictions. Even many
who think he was unwise to veto
the soldier bonus bill concede his
courage.
The thing which hurt Mr. Harding
more than anything else was his
attitude during the rail and coal
strikes. There is feeling that he
waited too long before bringing
pressure to bear on the coal miners
and operators. There is also a wide
spread notion that Mr.. Harding wab
bled in handling the shipments strike.
Many in his own party will never
forgive him for being willing to re-
store seniority rights to the strikers,
and great many more-for laboring
men are more numerous than en-
ployers-will never forgive him for
permitting the Attorney General to
apply the injunction process to labor.
Still another group commends the
use of the injunction as a weapon
Of protection for the public, but in
sists that the railroad executives
were equally guilty Of conspiracy to
them entered into agreements or
understandings. which, by concerted
action against their employers. had
the effect of restraining interstate
commerce. The injunction is criti-
cised by them as one-sided.
Irrespective Of how one feels about
the merits of the questions uppermost
in the public mind, the fact Is sthe
country will demand that an impress
sive start at least. be made on the
following problems:
First, the governments relation to
agricultural credit must be more posi-
tive and helpful.
Second, the inequitable phases of the
tariff must be removed and the elastic
provisions of the law actually applied
Third. further reductions In taxes
must be made and this means CORE
spending cuts in government eXpendi-
lures.
Fourth, whether by insurance GER
tihcates or some other plan the bonus
sentiment of the soldiers and sailors
and their friends can not be ignored.
If it cannot be satisfied. 1t must be
placated. The veto of the bonus bill
merely postponed solution of the
problem. It's live issue and most Of
dents veto felt happy because Amer
teas fiscal condition wasn't upset
They weren't concerned so much with
,the principle of a bonus. II the gov
,ernment could devise a way to meet
the desires of the ex-service men
without bringing on what business
smen fear-namely, a shock to business
or even panic-they wouldn't op-
pose 1t.
Foreign Policy Unsatisfactory.
J Fifth, Americas foreign policy is
not satisfying the thoughtful mem
.bers Of any political party. Far from
seeking American participation in the
Deague of nations-the writer rarely
,heard the legue discussed-it Is
nevertheless true that the country for
the most part is still waiting patient
ly for Mr.. Harding to offer his sub
stitute-an association of nations.
Leadership on foreign affairs would
help Mr.. Harding's prestige immense
ly. The respect and admiration for
Secretary of State Hughes is nation
wide, but the idea seems to prevail
CHAT both Mr.. Harding and Mr.
Hughes are pursuing a negative policy
Sand in doing SO that American
trade and commerce and prosperity
are bound to suffer
Sixth, the whole country Is watch
ing to see whether Mr.. Harding will
bow to the will Of Congress, which is
lukewarm. if not opposed altogether.
to ship subsidy or force the measure
through in the national interest
Only one thing can save Mr.. Hard
any of the foregoing problems and
drifts along behind Congress-and
that's the state Of disorgani5ation OF
the democratic party. From coast to
coast the writer encountered evidence
Of democratic disintegration. Again
and again he found states where the
leading democrats have despaired OF
getting anywhere by clinging to the
democratic standard and have Joined
the dominant party. II all democrats
become republicans the latter will
get SO topheavy in numbers as to
bring split. Were Mr.. Harding NOM
mated and running for office tomor-
Gratis have no effective organization.
Two years from now the story NAV