Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-05-10
CONSTITUTIONAL PRESIDENT
: NOT DICTATOR

support of his recommendation that
the United States join the World
Court was a masterful discussion of
the subject from his viewpoint and
once more presents him before the
American people as President who
accurately appreciates his position as
Chief Executive" asserts the Re-
publican Publicity Association
through its President, Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr. "He recognizes him
self as bound by certain pledges. He
has definite views as to the manner
in which those pledges should be
fulfilled, and, without assuming to
dictate to the coordinate body in
Congress, he states in a perfectly
clear and forceful manner the action
he thinks in perfectly clear and
IDLE judgement and privilege to
should be taken. All this, on his
part, is commendable.
Zone of the most reassuring fea-
lures of the Harding administration
has been the frequent indication by
official acts and utterances that he
does not look upon himself as AN abb
solute monarch possessed of infall-
IDLE judgement and privileged to
WELD scepter over the private and
public lives of the American people.
Nowhere can there be found any
manifestation of desire or intention
to assume the role of dictator. Truly
representative popular government
is safe under the leadership of man
who thus understands and upholds
constitutional limitations upon his
official authority.
"As President Harding demon
strated, the Republican party is
committed to the sttlement of inter-
national disputes Of justiciable ma
ture by negotiation, arbitration or
adjudication While yne last Re-
publican National Platform contain
ed declaration in favor Of an in
ternational court, Mr.. Harding did
not undertake to say that the party
is committed to the particular inter-
national court set up by. the league
of nations. In his judgment Ameri-
can participation in the existing
court furnishes the best opportunity
for fulfillment of that party policy.
Mr.. Harding recognizes the right Of
other men to entertain different
views as to the manner in which the
party pledge shall be fulfilled and he
does not follow the example of GER
tain other executive who denounced
as 'pinheads' all those who disagreed
with him. The people of the coun-
try had right to know in detail the
views the President entertained on
the subject. They have right to a
full and free discussion Of the sub
ject in the Senate and an opportunity
to express to their representatives
their individual views as to the
course this government should take.
The American policy will not be the
product Of dictation by one man nor
the result Of hysteria among many.
Gas President Harding does not
believe in one-man government,
neither does he believe in govern
ment overwhelmed by one idea. He
took occasion to say that he does
not hold this world court question
paramount to al others confronting
our government. He truly says that
our problems at home Invariably
cali for our first consideration - a
fact which his predecessor unfor-
tunately seemed unable to compre-
bend The whole country may well
feel treasured over this new express
ion of Mr.. Harding's primary inter-
est in the welfare of his own coun-
try.
Whatever the merits or dement's
of the international court, this coun-
try will be neither saved nor ruined
by joining or not joining. We have
numerous domestic problems of far
more immediate Importance to our
own people as individuals and as a
to be congratulated that they have
in the White House leader who has
convicted on important subjects and
who has the courage to express his
opinions even though he may disa-
gree with many prominent members
Of his party, but who does not as
sumo the un-American attitude of
determining by his own dictum exact
ly what must or must not be done"