The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-05
MIR. HARDING'S ADMINISTRATION

MIR. HARDING'S ADMINISTRATION
 It is too early fairly and accurately to appraise the presidential record of Warren G. Harding. Events that now appear overshadowing mag in course of time, through assuming their proper perspective, fade into comparative in- | significance, while acts that are now regarded as unimportant may with time take on increased appreciation. And yet, there are some things that may be said now that will stand the test of time. Perhaps no president of recent times has ever been, through no fault of his own, at greater va riance with his party majority in con gress than MT. Harding. On some of his most cherished plans, and deeply involving the national welfare, the congress has shown an indifference that was almost monumental. Where the right lay is indicated by the fact that, while the congress steadily de- creased in public prestige, the presi- dent as steadily grew in public stature, daily throwing the time-serving poli- ticians into more intense shadow. A glimpse of MT. Harding's high personal character may be gleaned from the fact that, through it all, he never lost his boise nor become angry with the recalcitrants, but remained serenely intrenched in his convictions and calmly insistent upon their transmuta- ton into law.
 One of the policies upon which the president was adamant was that of economy in public expenditures. He succeeded in obtaihing a budget law, but he had difficulty in inducing re- bellious department heads to live within their allotted income. Gradually his quiet determination won over their obstinacy, until finally there was evi- dence of a spirit of cooperation to- wards the end desired. The Wash ington conference was one of the out standing acts of his administration, and it revealed as nothing else could have done the absolutely peaceful dis position of this nation. While the conference itself was of incomplete achievement, as MT. Harding was not the last to realize, yet it marked an important precedent in the struggle towards universal peace. It laid the foundation for future conferences, through general international accept ance of the principle of agreements for the limitation of armaments. It may be that the conference laid the basis for the final abolition of war. How genuine was the presidents de- sire for peace is shown by his insist ence upon the world court as step in that direction, and by the fact that his Very last public service consisted in giving to the country renewed exhor- tation to accept the court principle.
 No cause espoused by MT. Harding more clearly deserved congressional support than the permanent establish. ment of an American merchant ma rine and the saving to the nation of our war-built fleet of merchant ships. Congress- failure in this instance was inexcusable. The president brought to congress a carefully worked out plan for gradually putting the fleet on an Independent operating basis under private ownership and con trol. He did not claim for the plan perfection, but, on the other hand, stressed the national necessity of merchant marine and invited congress, if it had better plan, to enact it. Congress failed miserably either to enact the subsidy measure or to pass a preferable substitute. Indeed, con- gress may be said utterly to have ig-' nored any responsibility at all in this outstanding matter. When the mem- bers of the United States Shipping Board, abandoned to their own de- vices, determined to carry on regard less of the failure of congress, secure in the conviction that their public duty commanded them to administer the fleet in such a manner as to retain it as permanent public asset, the pres ident stalwartly came to the boards support and openly approved the l boards purpose. This is an act that