Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-09-20
COOLIDGE GIVES
USUAL PLEDGES
PUBLIC SEEMS TO EXPECT THE
PROMISE OF A GENERAL
WELFARE" POLICY.
ASKS PUBLIC COOPERATION
President Also Follows Precedent by
Intimating That He Win Not In
terfere With Congress, Promise
Not Always Easy to Keep
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

By EDWARD B. CLARK
Washington.-Th great policy" of
President Coolidge is the great pol
icy'' of every other president of the
United States since George Washing
ton took the oath of Office. The great
policy" is a general welfare policy.
It may seem curious that a presi-
dent of the United States on entering
Office finds it necessary to tell the peo-
pie that he is going to try to give
them a good administration. 1t would
seem that there is much which should
be taken for granted, but nevertheless
every president is called upon to out
line a general welfare policy and
policy of promise of an attempt at
well doing. President Coolidge is no
exception. The President has per-
mitted it to be known that he is
earnestly DESTROYS of obtaining pub
lie cooperation in furthering the well
fare of the United States. The word
cooperation here means, of course.
that the President will do his part.
Now some of the fippant ones say
that President Coolidge might have
established a precedent by refraining
from making any promise Of intended
good behavior further than that en-
bodied in the oath of office, which was
administered to him as soon as it was
known that he was to succeed to the
presidency. However, the public ex-
pect the pledge of proper endeavOr
and therefore each incoming president
seemingly feels called upon to declare,
'I'll do my level best"
Freedom for Congress Promised.
So far as the record runs, every
president of the United States has
made another promise, either directly
or indirectly. This promise has been
that he will in no wise attempt as
the head of the executive department
to force the hand or override the will
Of the legislative department of gov
eminent. This, in brief, means that
the White House will not interfere
with congress.
It is hardly necessary, perhaps, to
go back far into the past to point out
instances Of this specific promise max
ing. although In every inaugural adj
dress the pledge has been made by sug-
gestion. Former President Wilson
was emphatic in his declaration that
congress must be unimpeded in what
1t thought was it's duty. President
Harding said the same thing, but he
said it between his election and his
inauguration in speech delivered in
the United States senate, membership
in which he held until the eve of his
entrance into the White House.
Within a week the present admins
tration has let it be known that con-
gress can be depended upon or ought
to be depended upon to do the things
proper in the sight of the people.
There was the sharp suggestion of
policy of non-interference by the ex-
ecutive
What are the facts in these various
cases? 1t is not at all likely that any
president from Washington's time
down would have admitted that he had
attempted to interfere with the will
Of congress, except in the form of
legitimate veto Of legislation. The
fact is, however, that detailed history
Of the administrations shows that
every president has attempted in
way to move sometimes reluctant
congress to do his will It probably
always will be so, because the ten
| dency of congress on some legislative
matters is to break up into factions,
each faction perhaps being willing that
certain laws should be enacted, but
each desiring that it shall be put into
the form that it wishes. The result
IF This Is that president, as the
head of an administration, and also as
the head of a political psrty, finds that
tho legislation which he mas recon-
mended is meeting with all kinds of
obstacles which are created sometimes
for the purpose of pleasing a small
section Of the people, while displeas-
ing the rest Of them.
Big stick Sometimes Needed.
# is In times like this that the
president finds he must use the big
stick. Of course, he does not call
# a big stick nor do his friends so
call It: but he makes appeal to party
LOYALTY and sometimes points out
sharply what he considers to be the
loval duty of his party men who have
divided into fractional fields.
IF President Harding had lived it
was regarded as probable that he
would be compelled to. use all his per-
suasiye powers and, perhaps, his punt
tive mowers in an endeavor to secure
sanction for his plan for American
membership in the world court. He
was accused of using the big stick in
shin subsidy matters and with one or
two others which he considered to be
Of legislative moment.
II seems to be the feeling in Wash
;ngton today that President Coolidge
will allow congress to work its own
will In the matter of American mem
bership in the world court It is be-
Iieved that he will urge the Hard
ing proposal, but that he will not at