The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-06-15

OF Harding
Meets Test
Nv DAVID LAWRENCE
CCopyrlght by The Intel!iSencer)

WASHINGTON. y. c. June l4.-Fres'-
Zen, Hardng's threat 10 call congress
MO extra session IL IL adjourns Win,
out actinE on the ship SUBSIDY oL.t
he first major test OF party leaoershIp
which the present chiet 'N"Sut.IT M.S,.s fonse ,s
Viii the Republicans in congress luIn
sov, their party leader Intit Hom
they have been lukewarm on inc sutp
subsidy bill because OF a variety Ss
-easons. among them Cs.ae1 ror M nreiw. i
dice against subsidies. To thwart tnc
Presidents wish means on the oTneF I
band a number OF political com 80.
lions OF an entirely different SorL, ~.
Harding is midway in his .administra-
tIon-a failure on the part OF Repuo,,
ican congress 10 support MIN WouIu
weaken his power during the rem2ihaeL
Of the term. Some ot Mr.. HarGins
friends think ne was unwise TO MAKE
fsst on the ship subsidy bill and tnat
ha might have Welded hts CLUB OF LEAD
srship on something more likely OF sue
cess ,;.,
cal consequences Of an abandoned mer-
rhart fleet are colossal and that more
Of political issue will oe made against
the Republican party II II perH;ts tme
war fleet 10 dsintegrate ana the eN
penses OF operation TO mount tnah WouIo
ns the case II the old arguments against
subsidy were revived.
The Alternative
Tor what Is the alternative to the
ship subsidy plan Mr.. Harding Would
mass the whole matter 70 the shoulders
OF congress. An investment or tnTSe
billion dollars In SHIPS wonId n"'nIiT Lii
10 relatively nothing and america VII!
be compelled TO sell her ships 10 Tor
eIEn buyers at a tremendous loss 10
operate the ships. on the other hand.
means an expense many times greater
than the amount OF subsidy asked. IN
Nj HardInc's view there Is no alterna-
tiys and that's why he Is forcing action
Now so as TO save further expense oil
government operation whN" the SuoJeS'
SraEs along on the congressional caLeh-
tar from year 20 year
convincing Republican leaders that ne
"a In earnest about the ship SUBSIDY
bill The letter he wrote TO Cielirman
campbell on May 2Sth threatening 20
call an extra session c1USe" sur IL
wax NO, given ont at the time because
many leaders didn't think the carrying
on. OF tho threat would N' necessary.
,lnnos,tion to the ship subsidy bill has
heen growing however. and many mem
bers have felt that 1t would os wsser
70 let action bs postponed until! arter
the autumn elections, Mr.. Harding
would have none OF II. Now house
leaders, who ny the way. have I'M
proved the original bill q great deal,
Eave decided 10 report the measures
within a foren!ght or three weeks
WIN Enhance Prestige.
Many OF the leaders IN congress. IN
fac, most OF them. do rot like Mr.; HARD
rr-'s assumption Of leadership. But as
usuaI. congress with its multttarious IN
terests finds itself grudgtngly inclined
N follow tho will Of the President ana
Mr.. Harding Is being told that success
IN so difficult a legislative proposition
a1 shIn subsidy will enhance his pres
tlEe and make possible tho Adoption OF
other party measures.
Few things have taken moro OF Mr..
Earding's time since he became Fresi-
dent than the shipping mudu!s' re
convinced that Chairman \. u. Lasker
has brought order out OF chaos and has
placed the shipping board on system
attic basis. Evidence OF this Is the fact
that on July lst every debt or the
hoard will have been iiquidated with the
syceptIon OF the suits now in courts
which may take years 10 adjudicate.
This leaves the problem OF the shipping
board wholly one OF operation or Shlps'
Government operation. Mr.. Harding Is
absolutely convinced is uneconomic ana
unprotitable to all concerned. To run
tho ships the government wvuId have
IN spend much more annually than Is
asked for In the subsidy and the puoIc
would hardly sanction the UullulHe VI
.hlps 70 replace those which are wear
ing out or the construction OF needed
,vpns OF vessels which were not in
Guided In the war fleet. but which are
essential TO balanced merchant marine.
II Nothing Il Done.
- nothing Is done. the expense or up-
keen alone. 20 say nothing CT deprccia.
rion Of the ships themselves Will
amount to nifty million dollars year
with the possible loss. too. OF an Ameri-
"a. merchant marine. because or the
absence OF private initiative and stimu-
us The subsidy Will cost much less
than fifty million. and the private CON
Germs which arc ready 20 be formed the
moment the till IS passed would be
limited as 10 their profits and be SUD-
lect to government regulation very
much "a are American railroads. FRONTS
would not be guaranteed. but their
amounts limited. No alternative plan
has found favor. It's ship subsidy or
chaos. and the loss OF billions invested
by American taxpayers unless some ac-
t,on is taken soon and policy deter
mined That Is why the President be-
ncves ne must force a decision one way
or tho other at once.
ACCUSED MEN DENY.