Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-27
TAXATION To LEAD
COOLIDGE ADDRESS
To NEW CONGRESS
White House Expected to
Answer Charges of "Do-
Nothing Policy Made by
Critics
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
U.eased Wire Service to The Journal.
fConVri-bt 1928

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24-Presi-
dent Coolidge, in his forthcoming
message to congress-he isn't sure
yet whether it will be a personal adj
dress or message-will touch on
every major question before the
country today.
The president will answer those
critics who say he hasn't done any
thing or said anything of Consequence
since he took the oath of office. Mr..
Coolidge has been at work for many
weeks on the first important COM
munication which he will make to
the American people, for he realizes
that it will be in a sense his per-
sonaI program, his pledge for the
remainder of the Harding term and
also a campaign platform for 1924.
Mr.. Coolidge has endeavored to
follow the Harding practice of con-
sulting leaders of both houses OF
congress-he will even ask them
whether they prefer a personally
delivered address or a messag sc read
ny q CICA ~ clo IL w. N''NS
the Wilson administration.
Taxes and Foreign Affairs
While taxation is paramount
issue. not less interesting will be the
presidents discussion of foreign re.
lations. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.
chairman of the senate foreign re-
Iations committee, and also the ma
iority leader of the senate, has been
spending a good deal of tire with
Mr.. Coolidge lately. The general
impression has been that the legis-
lative program was being discussed,
but it turns out that Mr.. Lodge is
far more interested in what Mr..
Coolidge will have to say on foreign
relations.
Besides the natural inclination OF
a president to consult the chairman
Of the senate foreign relations COM
mittee, Mr.. Coolidge has an added
reason for wishing to take MI.
Lodge into his confidence as the lat
ter is just as much interested in
seeing a Massachusetts man nomi-
mated for the next presidential term
as is Mr. Coolidge.
The real point of the discussion
between Mr.. Lodge and the presi-
dent of course, concerns the meas
ure Of American participation in
European affairs. Germany is on
the verge of collapse. There are
plans already for the feeding of the.
German people. Congress would
have to make the necessary appro
priations
German Food. Hoarded
The department of agriculture
has statistics showing that Germany
has plenty of food on hand, but that
it is in the hands of those who have
boarded it because they are UNI
willing to accept worthless paper
money in payment. What the Ger
mans need is not food, but money to
buy their own harvest.
Under the circumstances, what
ever policy the United States gov
eminent may decide upon TO assist
in stabilizing conditions in Germany
relates in some measure to the rep
arations commission. 1t is said the
president feels he can do no better
than to review the recent efforts of
Secretary Hughes to obtain the APP
pOintment of an impartial commits
sion to determine what Germany's
capacity to pay would be. The re-
sponsibility for the failure of that
plan is not on America, but on
France, and since the exchange of
notes and diplomatic conversations
occurred while congress was not in
session, it is natural to advise both
houses of what has been done.
AS for the world court-or rather
the league court '-aS Senator
Lodge prefers to call 1.-THE pro-
posal made by the late President
Harding and Secretary Hughes is
before the senate foreign relations
committee of the senate. Mr.. Lodge
would just as soon let it remain
there Indefinitely, as he sees no need
of precipitating party discOrd at this
time.
Can't Ignore Court
But Mr.. Coolidge cannot very well
ignore the proposal and some ref
erence from him to the effect that it
is before the senate is expected. Mr..
Coolidge is said to be of the opinion
that if the senate can frame a sub
Stitute proposal entirely satisfactory
to it and also to the other nations
he would gladly accept the proposal,
but that in the absence of such a
constructive action he would not
like to see America adopt a mega
tive attitude toward the present
court of international Justice.
In the Coolidge message undoubt-
eddy will be a tribute to the late
President Harding, whose death oc-
Cured since the last congress adj
journed. A further expression of
Mr. CoOlidoe'S desire To carry ont
the Harding policies is expected 10