The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-08-09

SlotCilI 4lS III lOA llAC l'tAh,Ob III AAetA -
overcome the stubborn and sullen re-
sistance of politicians of both parties
and the hostile sentiment of Reprbli-
can party workers with whom he had
hitherto been himself accustomed to
train. In fact, some of them, Ike
Secretary Fall, were not only mem
bers of his official household, but were
his personal friends. And many of
them could not believe at first that
he was in earnest, but thought he
was making simply a moral gesture
that would end in nothing, and that
was intended only to please the virtu-
Gus sentimentalities of theoretical
craftsmanship. When they discovered
that he really meant what he said
they yielded reluctantly, they did not
cooperate willingly. They did not
understand, and they never will I'M
derstand how Mr.. Harding came to
surrender such a valuable political
lever as they considered the old and
loose system of appropriation hills
to be.
In this matter, however, Mr.. Hard
ing rose distinctly above his own per-
sonal and political level and tradi-
tions. To him must be accorded the
honor of bringing to victorious con-
clusion a long struggle in when all
of his predecessors were defeated or
baffled. And his success was due to
the fact that he threw himself ear
nestly and honestly into this Budget
reform, and that in Mr.. Dawes he
selected the particular man who was
needed to drive through this particu-
lar thing.
This must be written down as
political and administrative credit of
the first magnitude It means not
simply the saving Of many millions
of dollars every year, but it repre-
sents the elimination of demoraliZ-
ing and corrupt system Of approp-
Rating the public money. In his
positive and determined attitude TO-
ward the Budget Mr.. Harding re-
vealed himself in a new ard surpris~
ing light to both friends and foes.
Nor would Mr.. Harding have called
the Disarmament Conference had ne
been entirely true to n2oular corcep-
ton Of his political form and to what
were supposed t, be his normal re-
actions and processes. Unless he re-
ceived a new vision after he entered
the White House, as seemed to he the
case with the Budget, OF really pcs
! sessed more imagination and courage
than either his opponents or his IS
/ sociates believed him to have, the
/ Disarmament Conference would not
! have assembled in Washington as the
first fruits Of his Administration. It
was a stroke which suggested Roose-
veLtian holiness and appreciation Of
dramatic values rather than the hum
drum mental qualities attributed to
Mr.. Harding. 1t seemed to involve
danger Of party disaension, and Ger
tainly involved the risk of iguomiui-
Gus failure. But It proved at once to
be as popular as it had at first ap-
peared to be aUdacious. It struck the
heart Of public sympathy in the cen
ter, and was hailed in this and every
other country as a splendidIy con-
structiye thought. And in spite of pre-
dicted quicksands, shoals and obstruc-
tons the thought was developed into
great international compacts promo
tive Of peace of>great economies and
incidentally Of general welfare.
Two things the Disarmament Con-
ference accomplished. 1t reduced the
sum of naval expenditures greatly by
curtailing the construction Of costly
battleships, and in all probability it
removed the menace of war between
the United States and Japan, for the
, immediate future at least. Considering
the long list of diplomatic failures
that have followed fast on one an
others heels since November II, 1918,
Mr.. Harding in his Disarmament Con-
E ference performed the greatest act
: of conservation and safety done any
where since the war came to an end.
2 Neither the Budget not the Dis
armament idea was original with him.
= Mr.. Taft while President favored the
5 former, while Winston Churchill, more
[ or less seriously, suggested a ma
= val holiday" shortly before Europe
sprang to arms in 1914. But Mr.
: Harding gave both these ideas vitality
1 and force, and they will remain as
l enduring monuments to his memory
. These achievements, however, tow
e err far above the general level of his
I public life. They were singular anC
n incongruous inspirations rather thar
s characteristics of his service at The
S National Capitol. He can never be ac
counted one of our Hero Presidents
e like Washington and Lincoln, nor bt
d classed with Jefferson in the philoso
S ply of craftsmanship. In ability h,