Evening star., 1923-08-02

Warren Gamaliel Harding, twenty
ninth President of the United States, was
swept into office in 1920 by some 1O0O.ool
votes, defeating James V. Cox OF ONO
the democratic nominee. He took the
oath of office March 1. 1921. his in
auguration being marked by extreme
simplicity. There was no inaugural
parade. such as most of the other
Presidents have had. nor any inaugu,
raj ball He delivered his inaugural
address. however. from the steps oi
the Capitol in accordance with time
honored custom after taking the oath
of office.
Probably no President ever faced a
more difficult task than Mr.. Harding
He was confronted with conditions IN
the country due to the close OF the
war There had been business de-
preston and many men and women
were out of work. These conditions
improved very greatly, however, DUR
ing his administration.
Arms Conference Pacts.
The outstanding accomplishment
Of Mr.. Harding's administration
was the Washington conference
on limitation of armaments and the
problems of the Pacific and the
treaties negotiated at that confer
ence The naval limi itation treaty has
been ratified by all five of the powers
signing 1.-THE United States, Great
Britain, France. Italy and Japan. The
four-power Pacific treaty. whose ratl'
fcation was the signal for the ter
mination of the Anglo-Japanese all
ance. also has been ratified by the
United States, Great Britain, France
and Japan. Under it these nations
pledge themselves to respect the
rights of the others in their island
possessions and dominions in the re-
gion of the Pacific, and in case OF
differences arising, either between the
signatories or between signatory
and other nations. to confer IN Cr
effort to bring about a settlement
Formal peace with Germany and -
Austria was made during the Hard
administration. The Versailles peac>
treaty and the league of nations cove
nant. negotiated by former President
Wilson. together with the representa-
tives OF the allied nations and the cen
trail powers. had failed Of ratification
After President Harding came into the
White House Congress put through the
so-called Knox resolution. declaring wal
with Germany and Austria al an end
and providing for the esta bhshment OF
peace between the United States and
those nations with the interests of the
United States safeguarded. President
Harding signed the resolution. Diplo-
matte relations with those countries
were resumed. and representatives OF
Germany and Austria came TO Washing
ton, and the President appointed Amer
tcan diplomatic representatives to the
Berlin and Vienna posts
President Harding sought earnestly
to bring about legislation to relieve
the condition of the American farmer
He urged also legislation to meet the
railroad situation and to prevent the
great industrial upheavals such as the
railroads and coal strikes of 1922
vetoed Soldier Bonus.
Convinced that the Treasury of the
United States was not in shape to
meet the payments necessary if the
so-called soldiers bonus hill were
enacted. Mr.. Harding vetoed this
measure when it was sent to him
, and his veto was sustained by the
/ Senate
Another measure which President
Harding sought earnestly to have en-
h acted into law was the merchant
\ marine bill. This failed in the Six
ty-seventh Congress. however, be-
cause it was never brought to a vote
House. 1t was filibustered to death
| in the upper house.
The Presidents latest recommended
tion to Congress. or, rather, to the
Senate, was the ratifica ton of a pro-
tocol providing for adherence of the
United States to the Permanent
Court of International Justice. This
proposal, however. was attacked by
republican senator's who had opposed
the entrance of the United States
/ ident declared that he was opposed
to entrance into the league as
strongly as any one could be, but
\ that the adherence of the United
States, as proposed. did not mean the
entrance of this country into the
league. He spoke for the world
F, court on his trip west and it was
expected would give the matter his
earnest support when Congress con-
vened in December. 1928
White House Opened.
Under the Harding administration
the White House, which had been
closed, so far as large entertainments
were concerned. during the war and
later during the illness of former
President Wilson, was thrown open
again. and the receptions and dinners
usually given by the President of
the United States were carried out
President Harding laid particular
stress upon economy in government
expenditure. The So-calied budget
system was put into operation under
his administration with good results
He took a strong stand for law en-
forcement in connection with the fed
eral prohibition act. and ranged him
self on the side of the "drys." The
President, becoming a total abstainer
from the use of Intoxicating bever-
ages. was convinced, it was said, that
If prohibition was to be successfully
enforced those prominent in all
walks of American life must give up
lluuOr n
had been lawfully acquired
Mr.. Harding was called upon to
name four of the nine members of
the Supreme Court Of the United
States, including the Chief Justice,
Mr.. Taft, owing to deaths and resig-
nations since Mr. Harding became
President. He made hundreds of
other important nominations both to
the judiciary and the executive de-
partments of the government
Tho denomination of President
Harding to succeed himself at the