The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-30
His Party Has A Majority In Congress, But It Is A Ma lority In Name Only So Far As Effects Go
 WILL BE UNABLE TO LEAD UNLESS INSURGENTS WILL President Is Not Expected To Drive Or CajoIe, But Will Expect Congress To Do The Right, Because It Is Right
By RAYMOND CHAPTER Gcnsed Wire to The Age-HeraId


 WASHINGTON Nov. 29.-when Congress gathers next Monday. Presi- cent Coolidge will be confronted with a, situation more difficult than any President has faced in years.
 The republicans have majority in Congress, but it is a majority in name only They will hold all places of leadership in the House and Sem ate organizations, but they will be unable to lead, except when the small band of insurgents are willing that they should, The regular republicans have responsibility without authority -an outlook gloomy enough to worry any President who wants to get something done.
 Coolidge has yet to make his record for the nomination he hopes to re- ceive. His address to Congress will represent what he would like to do. The next step will be to get as much of that done as he ean-that will demonstrate his ability as an ex- ecutive and political leader.
 Country Wants Results.
 The second step is just as impor- tant as the first, because the coun- try wants results.
 Coolidge may deliver powerful message which will rally the coun- try to his support. But unless he has the genius for guiding Congress over the road he wants to go he will Se st 9 great disauyantage. 2S hsA new President comes In, ths first thing Congress does is to size him up. Coolidge is an unknowIi quantity to Congress except to the handful of leaders who have con suited with him In the last few weeks.
 This writer has observed Coolidge closely since last August and has talked with many leaders in the House and Senate who have been called to the White House to discuss the coming session. Coolidge will not try to drive Congress like Will son did, nor will he seek to persuade by compromises as Harding did. He knows what he wants and he hopes that Congress will grant it. But that s as far as he thinks 1t proper to go Coolidge places his faith in the Willingness of Congress to do what seems best for the country.
 O o O
 Tremendous Difficulties.
 But here he encounters difficulties such as no other President has met since Tafts time. Wilson had ma jority in Congress for six years and drove his own program through by sheer dominance and insistence upon party unity. The penalty for any democratic senator or congressman who disobeyed the White House man dates was severe. His patronage was cut off He was opposed by the ad- ministration if he come up for re- election. Then in 1918 Congress be- came republican and the country, naturally, did not expect 1t to fol- low a democratic President.
 Harding came in with such huge majority that disaffection within his own ranks caused little embarrass- ment. Occa sionally he found 1t neces- sary to compromise to placate dis senting group, but usually a pleas ant chat at the White House and a friendly pat on the back soothed the opposition.
 Insurgents To "Act Up.'
 Now Coolidge finds himself op- posed by a resolute group of insur- gents who know their power and are prepared to use it in behalf of prin- ciples for which they long have stood. These principles are directly opposed to those of the regular wing of the party.
 Were this the beginning of new administration, the conservative democrats might be willing to help the republicans out of tight places with the expectation that they would receive some consideration in patron age in return. But a national elec- tion is approaching and the demo crats Intend to make things as diff cult as they can for the republicans Therein lies Coolidge's chief source of trouble.