The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-03
HARDING VACATION TRIP |S FAILURE,
 CAPITAL LEARNS
Sugar Scandal Takes Joy Out of Executives South-
 ern Trip
WASHINGTON BUREAU,
 THE AGE-HERALD WaahiuRfOn. D. C. AnriI 1 l

Washington. D. C., April 9 J
 The capital gets it very straight that the vacation which began under such suspicious circumstances has resulted in dismal failure, and that President Harding returns a disillu- stoned man.
 1 During his absence, there developed the nationwide and peculiarly offen- sive sugar scandal. The President must now explain to the public the reason why he will not call an extra ordinary session of Congress to put |. an end to the steal"
 | And again, the President realizes, it Is understood, that hrs easy going disposition has given certain of his 1 friends, particularly Harry M Daugh- erty, the Talleyrand of the admins tration. license to speak for the ex- ecutlve. when, in his opinion. tho ex- ecutive should and will not speak for | himself.
 President at Sea.
 It is a deba ble question among republican politicians here as to which horn of his dilemma the Presi- ] dent finds the more vexing. There Is sugar, the price of which scars. It Is known by the President that tho people hold the Fordney- Mo Cumber tariff. which the President praised with extravaganza, responsi- ble. It is known by the President, likewise. that it was at the instance of his most trusted friends in the Sen ate thatthe proposed investigation of the sugar "gouge," was sidetrack Id and throttled Tn the hour of it's birth.
 The President knows. also. that it will require the federal trade and federal tariff commissions many months in which to find an alibi for the tariff. and place the responsibili- ty for the steal" on the shoulders of "speculators unknown to the wit nessW By that time, the President realizes the plans of the "specuiators" will have matured and the public will have been robbeds to the extent of a the price of sugar
 Hardins's Dilemma.
 There is the Presidents dilemma. it is said here. And yet it is not con- ceivaoble to local observers that the President will take the bull by the horns and put Congress to work de- vising means to terminate the sugar scandal. Such impulsiveness would be contrary to the disposition of Mr. Harding. it is pointed out, and, sec ondly. the personnel of the new Con- gress would give him good reason to abandon his plan were he ever to en- certain 1t for a moment.
 There Is another serious trouble. It is fairly well established here that Mr. Daugherty went a little too far with the license which the friendship and gentle disposition of the Presi- dent permit when, without doing the executive the honor of consulting him. he boldly announced that Harding was candidate.
 Thus, 1t is said to be apparent while 1t was President Harding who left Washington few days ago re- ioicing In <e vision of soft southern waters and irresistible golf courses, he who returns wilr> be Candidate Political Significance.
 Tho President is said to realize that whatever he attempts during the re- maining two years of his term will be regarded as not without political significance. On his western tour he cannot go. 1t is said, as a chief exec utive interested in finding out the re- quirements of his people. but must go as an aspirant for office Feeling the pulse Of voters" and repairing his political fences"
 In the meanwhile, to add to the dis comfort of the returning executive. Representative Cole of Iowa insists that an extra session be called to countoract those who would rob the people by increasing the price of sugar, and argues that tho cost of the extra session would be infinitesim l when It Is compared to the more than s1,O0O,000 the "gougers" take from the people every time sugar advances in price cent per pound.
 And the Presidents scheme of at taching America to the League of Nations via an international court of justice, divides. each day, his party more and m<re evenly, 1t Is claimed and is. in fact, 1t is contended, actu- ally on the rocks