The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-05
HARDING PLANS
EXTENSIVE
TOURS
Expects to Visit Pacific Coast
and Other Points Neglected
Since His Election.
Ry George R. HOLMES.

With Congress packing its trunks
for g long summer vacation-the
first in eight years - President
Harding is planning to spend a
good part OF the approaching sum
mer swinging around some of the
circles he neglected during the cam
paign of 1920, and which he has
been too occupied to undertake
since his entry into the White
Mr.. Harding has not been what
is known as "a travelling Presi-
dent" Aside from couple OF va
cation trips to Florida, and week
end jaunts not far from Washing
ton, Mr.. Harding has done little
travelling since he became Presi-
dent. He probably has delivered
fewer speeches away from Wash
ington than any Chief Executive
in recent years.
The Presidents friends explain
this on the ground that few Presi-
dents have been 80 engrossed with
public work as has Mr.. Harding.
He has had Congress on his hands
almost continually since he was in
augurated. which fact, coupled with
the multiplicity of foreign compli-
cations that have beset the Admin
istration, has combined to keep the
Presidents nose fairly close to the
grindstone for two years.
Plans Pacific Coast Visit.
Mr.. Harding has not visited the
Pacific coast since he first leaped
into prominence at Chicago in 1920
During the campaign, the Repub-
lican managers did not consider 1t
necessary for him to make IN ex-
tensive Western tour, and since his
Inauguration the pressure Of circum'
stances has been such that the trip
has been continually postponed.
A Pacific coast trip was planned
for last fall, prior to the November
elections, but Mrs. Harding's illness
and the Presidents desire to com
plete the ship subsidy program com
bined to prevent 1T.
Barring unforeseen complications
in the foreign situation, this sum
mer will see Mr.. Harding on the
Pacific coast, according to lenta'
tive plans now being formulated.
The President has not fully de-
cided whether to undertake the
Alaskan trip this summer, but is
favorably impressed with the idea,
and if possible he will go, includ'
ing in the journey a swiag through
the West.
Western Republicans are grow
ing insistent that the President pay
visit to the coast. They point
out that he never went west OF
Omaha as a candidate, and never
HIS been further inland than Gin
cinnati since he became President
and they contend that he owes
it to the States that gave him such
great pluralities in 1920 to pay a
visit.
Addresses Needed in West.
There are also political arguments
Of no small weight being brought tC
| bear on the White House in favor
of some western travelling. 1t has
been pointed out that most Of the
so-called unrest" in the country
originated through the great grain
and livestock belt that lies west
of the Mississippi, as exemplified in
the election of such progressive
Senators as Shipsted Of Minnesota
and Frazier of North Dakota, anC
Wheeler Of Montana. last Novem
Der, and the Republican party
prophets believe that a Presidential
journey through the west would "dC
much for the good Of the order" a:
lone Administration leader expressed
lit.
The time is also rapidly approach
ling when a decision must be mad,
as to whether President Harding
Twill be a candidate to succeed him
self in 1924.