The Washington times., 1923-03-04
Army Conference and Estab-
lishment Of Budget System
Outstanding Attachments
TREND is TOWARD EUROPE
Last Few Months Marked by
Changed Attitude Toward
old World Conditions
By WINDER R. HARRIS.

SCf1klQR OF the uOOU uOuE Dy Tie
White House clocks today will
mark the passing of the halfway
point in President Harding's four
year term.
An impartial high-spot survey
of his two-year record of accom-
plishments and failures reveals
much for which credit will be
claimed and criticism aimed.
DRIFT TOWARD EUROPE.
To the observer who has watched
the. current of events since March 4,
1921, the impression is unacceptable
Of a drift away from Congress and
toward Europe.
But while drifting in his official
relations with Congress and the Old
World. on the personal side of his
character he has stood by his friends
with fidelity that has become a
passion.
The Presidents own comment on
the first two years Of his regime is
that his greatest disappointment has
TO get his work done. He says he
Is buster than ever in his life, and
Congress keeps piling it on.
It is an open secret at the Capitol
that Mr. Harding has become very
much embittered toward the body
from which he rose to the Presi.
dency. He has come to feel that the
Senate is out OF sympathy with his
administrator Some Senators point
out that this is due to the in.
fluences which have surrounded him
since he has lived more or less
apart from his former intimates for
two years.
From the Capitol he is seen un-
der constant pressure from Secre-
tary Of State Hughes, Secretary OF
Commences Hoover and others to
adopt q policy OF closer participa-
ton in the affairs OF Europe. And
al the while he is surrounded more
and more by foreign diplomats.
whose business 1t is to cultivate his
unless they can reach him. He has
strivep against this influence. but
how successfully the record shows.
TRIES BACK DOOR.
He began by turning his back on
the League of Nations. Last Sat
friday he asked the Senate to
sanction a back-door entry through
The Hague international Court, a
GICt4l1OIl ltlQGPSItUSIl VI the
I'VE do not mean to be entang-
led," he told the 100,00 people who
by the aid of great amplifiers heard
bis inaugural address.
Five weeks later. in his first mes
eage to Congress, he declared:
"In the, existing League Of Ma.
tons, wofld-governing with it's
super-powers, this. Republic will
have no part"
His recommendation for official
membership in The Hague court
hsks the Senate to agree to adj
hesion to the league protocol.
The work of a President, how
ever, lies along domestic as well as
foreign lines, and for purposes of
appraisal. the record must be d.
kided into these classes. Undoubt-
edly the outstanding achievements
from the viewpoint Of the Admins
iration champions was the Confer
ence on Limitations of Armaments
and the treaties growing out of
that international gathering, al
though ratification by France still
3 lacking.
In the domestic field, on which
10 much stress was laid by cam
paign orators in 1920, the Hard.
ing Administration principal ac-
eomplishment, it is generally agreed,
was the establishment of the budget
system. Backed up by the semi
annual business meetings of the
executive heads of the various de-
partments and bureaus. at which
The President personally breaches
economy, the budget plan has re-
suited in a "pay-as-you-go'' policy
Ind expenditures are kept within
receipts.
SHIP SUBSIDY A FAILURE.
I've most significant failure suf.
Tered by the Administration to date
WAS the blocking of the ship sub
bidy bill in the Senate after it had
passed the House. But even Mr.
Harding's political foes gave him
full credit for making a game fight
10 the end.
The official act which has
Brought down upon the Presidents
head the greatest criticism over the
eountry was his veto of the soldier
bonus bill. Unless some satisfac
tory legislation for the benefit OF
The ex-service men is enacted be
lore 1924, that issue, politicians
Agree, is going to play prominent
part in the national election.
The first stroke of the Harding al
hninistration in the field of foreign
Affairs was to end the technical STATE
, war with Germany and Austria
which had continued since the Senate
twice refused to ratify the treaty O
Versailles with the League of Ma
ions covenant. This was followed
BY the negotiation Of treaties will
the central powers and resumption o
tull diplomatic relations. A few
weeks ago, under the spur of a Sen
lte resolution by Senator Reed o
Missouri, the last of the American
lroops on the Rhine were brough
home.
In all the controversy over tn,
question of reparations, the UNITED
States has taken the position tina
The amount should be reduced to cor
respond with Germany's ability t,
bay.
But the Harding Administrative,
pteadfastly has refused to become in
tolved In the dispute officially. 4
urect plea from Germany that thi