The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-03

How Mr.. Harding measured up Il
the task before him must be left t.
the historian, but his friends sale
that coming to the presidency as hi
did with an open mind, desire fol
counsel and an intimate knowledge
of the processes Of government &C
quired in his services in the senate
he was the type Of man needed fol
the job at such time. Preaching
upon every occasion the doctrine OF
Americanism, he set his face reso-
lutely against "cntangling alliances.
While thus adhcring to what he was
pleased to term the principles of the
founding fathers, he nevertheless
lent the moral assistance of the gov
crament in the efforts to bind up the
wounds Of the world.
Called Arms Conference.
The influence was once declared by
him to be not inconsiderable, and so
America under his guidance had a
part silent though it was in the main,
in effecting the settlements of many
vexing world questions. Its chief
contribution was the Washington
arms conference at which the prin-
cipal powers covenanted to limit the
sizes of their navles and thus lift
from tax-weary peoples the burden
of maintaining the race for naval
supremacy.
Along with the proffer of counsel
in effecting world settlement went
an insistence that American rights
be recognized. In polished phrase,
but with directness of expression
that was not to be misconstrued, the
world was given to understand from
the very first of the Harding admin
lstration that the, United States, free
ly respecting the rights of the other
nations, asked for herself only that
to which she was entitled in simple
justice, and that she could accept.
nothing less.
While in his dealings with Con-
gress, Mr.. Harding preferred the role
OF counsellor rather than dictator. he
speedily removed any doubt that his
gift of patience denoted any lack of
purpose once he had charted course.
thus he told Congress that soldiers
bonus legislation either should carry
the means of financing or be post
poned,. and when the legislators put
aside his advice he promptly vetoed
the bill they sent him.
Tenacity of Purpose.
His tenacity of purpose was fur
Their exemplified in his continual
pounding for economy in public ex-
penditures and again in his insist
ence that Congress pass the mer-
chant marine aid bill with view to
curtailing the continual drain which
the operation Of the war-built COM
mercial fleet had become upon the
Treasury. His greatest single effort
iffsSe16e -6sAsof domestic legislation
was in behalf of this measure.
: Not infrequently, Mr.. Harding was
called upon to play the role of peace
maker in government affairs. He in
tervened in a AisfAte. between Con-
$3.50 GNU VIC AACdSuIy as 10 the
form general tax revision was to take
and the program he approved was
carried out in the main with a re-
duction of more than half q billion
in the nations tax burden.
Likewise, his counsel settled the
long controversy between the House
and the Senate on the question of
American valuation in the tariff law.
He proposed in it's place a flexible
'arlff arrangement under which the
'ariff commission was given author
ty with his approval to increase or
over rates within prescribed limita-
lons. Upon signing the bill, the
resident declared it constitutes the
.reatest tariff reform in American
history.
Born in Ohio.
Mr.. Harding came Of hardy pio-
leer stock. He was born at Bloom
ng Grove, Morrow county, Ohio. No |
'ember 2, 1865, the son of country
.octor George T. Harding. Like most
ountry boys he went to q country
chool between morning and night
!hores and later attended college at
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