The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-08-03
BY Associated Prees.

BY Associated Pres.
Warren G. Harding brought TO th'
presidency an infinite patience ant
kindness in dealing with public ques
tions and men which enabled him Il
handle the problems of government
without the stress and worry which
had Handicapped many Of his pre-
decessors.
Whatever else historians may say
Of him, there probably will be little
dispute that few chief executives
came to office in peace time facing
problems more complex IN their ma.
ture or greater in number. All In
ternal affairs were unbalanced as
never before, with many principal
settlements Of the great war still TO
be effectuated. Athome the work. of
reconstruction had only Just begun,
with business depressed, agriculture
PROSTATE and unemployment general.
Type OF Man Needed.
How Mr.. Harding measured up TO
the task before him must be left TO
the historian, but his friends said
that coming TO the presidency as he
did, with an open mind, a desire for
counsel and an intimate knowledge
Of the processes OF government ac-
uuired in his services In the senate,
he was the type of man needed for
the Job at such a time. Preaching
upon every occasion the doctrine OF
Americanlsn1, he set his face reso-
lutely against "entangling alliances.
While thus adhering to what he was
pleased TO term the principles OF the
founding fathers. he nevertheless
lent the moral assistance of the gov
eminent In the efforts 70 bind up the
wounds Of the world.
That influence was once declared
by him to be not inconsiderable. and
so America. under mis- guidance. had
a part, client though II was In the
main, in effecting tine settlements OF
many vexing world problems. Its
chief contribution was the Washing
ton arms conference, at which the
principal powers covenanted TO limit
the size Of the navies, and thus lift
from tax.weary peoples the burden
Of maintaining the race for naval
supremacy.
Insisted on Rights.
Along with the proffer Of counsel
in effecting world settlement went
an fnsistence that American rights
be recognized. In polished phrase,
but with a directness OF expression
that was not to be mlsconstrued, the
world vas given to understand from
the very first OF the Harding adj
ministration that the United States,
freely respecting tho rights OF the
other nations, asked for Itself only
that TO which II was entitled In simple
justice and that 1t could accept moth
ing else.
While in his dealings with congress
Mr.. Harding preferred the role OF
counsellor rather than dictator, ne
speedily removed any doubt that his
gift of patience denoted any lack OF
purpose. once he had charted
course. Thus he told congress that
soldiers bonus legislation either
should carry the means of financing
or be postponed. and when the legis'
lators put aside his advice. he prompt
iy vetoed the bill they sent him.
Fought for Economy.
His tenacity of purpose was further
exemplified in his continual pound
ing for economy in public expendi'
lures and again In his insistence that
congress pass the merchant marine
bill with a view OF curtailing the con-
tinual drain which the operation OF
the war-built commercial fleet had be
come upon the treasury. His great
est single effort in the field OF domes-
tic legislation was in behalf of this
measure.
Not infrequently Mr.. Harding was
called upon TO play the role OF peace
maker in governmental affairs. He
intefvened in a dispute between con-
gress and tho treasury as 10 the form
general tax revision was to take, and
the program he approved was carried
out in the main with the reduction
OF more than half a billion in the ma
tons tax burden.
Likewise his counsel settled thu
long controversy between the house
and senate on the question of Amer
lean valuation IN the tariff law. He
proposed, in its place, flexible tariff
arrangement under which the tariff
commission was given authority with
his approval to increase or lower
rates within prescribed limitations.
Upon signing the bill. the president
declared IL constituted the greatest
tariff reform in American history.
Caine Of Hardy Stock.
Mr.. Harding came Of hardy pioneer
stock. He was born at Blooming
Grove, Morrow county. Ohio. Noven-
ber g 1896. the son OF a country doc
tor, George T. Harding. Like most
country boys. he went 10 country
school between morning and night
chores, and later attended college at
iberia, o. lie tried school teaching
for a year, but having had smell
Of printers ink while setting type for
his college paper. the lure drew him
into the newspaper field.
Hts family, meantime, had moved TO
Marion, In an adjoining county, where
he obtained HIS first newspaper Job
and where hts life interests were cen
tered thereafter MI, Harding's am