Evening star., 1923-12-06
Gives Platform,
for Election
in 1924.
HARDING POLICY
is CARRIED OUT
President Takes
Firm Stand in
Message.

ohlHS d dHu SOui dSSoaS
stand on public issues which have
agitated the country for months,
President Calvin Coolidge. in his
first annual address to Congress. TO-
day announced to the country and
TO the world the policies of his ad-
ministration.
The President declared himself in
favor of tax reduction in accord
ance with the plan developed by his
Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.. Mel
Ion.
At the same time he pronounced
his opposition to the proposed SOL
diers' bonus.
Il do not favor the granting of a
bonus" he said, unequivocally. He
indicated his willingness, however,
to go the limit in other ways to aid
disabled former service men.
No less definite was the declaration
of the President regarding foreign re-
lations. He announced himself in ia
vor of adherence of the United States
to the world court with reservations
indicating our refusal to adhere to
the league of nations" He commend
ed the world court protocol Ito the
favorable consideration of the Sem
ate"
League Issue Dead.
The league of nations issue, so far
as the entry of the United States into
that association of nations, is dead.
the President informed the Congress.
Our country has definitely refused
to adopt and ratify the covenant of
the league of nations" said the Presi-
dent. Il am not proposing any change
in this policy; neither Is the Senate"
The final sentence Of the message
epitomized the Presidents conception
of the United States and it's foreign
relations. He said:
america has taken her place in the
world as a republic-free. independ-
ent, powerful. The best service that
can be rendered to humanity is the
assurance that this place will be
maintained"
President Coolidge's address to the
Congress was delivered at noon at a
joint session of Senate and House in
self was crowded with members OF
Congress, with the highest officials of
the government, .both executive and
judicial. The galleries of the House
We're jammed to their capacity.
The Presidents opening statement
referred to the death of President
Harding. the first formal notice to the
new Congress of the death of the late
President.
Lauds Predecessor.
THE world knew his kindness and
his humanity. his greatness and his
He has left his mark upon history.
He has made justice more certain and
peace more secure"
The first appearance of President
Coolidge before the Congress brought
no new figure to the Capitol. For
three years the President, as Vice
President. had presided over the Sem
ate.
The Russian government will not
receive the recognition of the United
States, the President said, until that
government is willing to recognize
the sanctity of International obliga-
tons He voiced his hope, however,
that a change is coming in the atti-
tude of the Russian government, and
gave assurance that when such
change does come the United States
would be The first to go to "the eco
nomic and moral rescue of Russia"
Touches Domestic Problems,
The Presidents address dealt at
length with domestic problems; advo-
Gated tax reduction, economy in gov
ernmental expenditures, the better
enforcement of prohibitions: that the
supply Of coal shall be constant: bet
ter organization of the farmers to
assure them an adequate return for
their labor and produce: the appoint
ment of congressional committee to
b consider offers Of purchase for the
Muscle Shoals power project; relief
for the settlers on reclamation prof.
ects in the west: improvements In
highways; reforestatiofl; maintenance
of the American merchant marine; the
simpliication of court procedure in
the interests of Justice; the :consolida-
ton Of the railroads into larger sys-
tens for increased efficiency and
economy: strengthening Of the immi-
grafton laws and the registration of
all ALIENS. the reorganization of the
government departments in accord
ance with the Brown plan, except In
SO far as 1t would consolidate the
War and Navy Departments. ~.
Asks. ,Farmer.' Relief.
The President. in his discussion of
the agricultural situations situa-
tion which brought about a political
revolt In the northwest In recent
months-poihted out that the period
of distress for a great portion Of the
agricultural population has passed.
He frowned upon any plan for gov
ernment price-fixing. He did say,
however. that the farmer must be re-
lieved by a reduction In taxation,
federal and local. that he must be as
sisted by a reorganization of the
freight-rate structure. with a reduc-
tion In the charges on the farmers
produce, and cheaper fertilizers must
be produced. OF significance in this
connection is his reference to Muscle
Shoals. ~.
The cost of coal the President said
has become "unbearably high" He
warns the Industry that steps must
be taken to tighten this burden on
the industrial and domestic life of
the country. and that the. supply of
coal must be constant. Public inter-
est In the coal industry. he said. Is
paramount. and Incorporating ac-
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