Evening star., 1923-12-06
A Clear. Strong Message.

to Congress, delivered in person to-
day, makes several distinct impress
sions. Foremost is that it is brief:
it covers wide range in small com.
pass OF words. Next is that it is
clear; II leaves no question of the
meaning. Again. il is simple: in its
short sentences it states the case of
the nation so distinctly that no effort
Is required TO grasp its full signifi-
cameo. 1t is. III short, both as to the
matter and the manner. an eminently
satisfactory message.
In his statement Of policies Mr..
Coolidge does not depart from the line
Of public expectation, He carries OIL
with those of his predecessor i'll Office,
in full accordance with his pledge
given when he assumed. the presi-
dency upon Mr.. Hardings death.
Interest centers upon foreign rela.
tions, fiscal questions and railroad
and agricultural matters. In all. of
these the !: President puts his views
before Congress explicitly and plainly.
The league of nations incident, so
far as American participation is. con-
6erned, is CLOSED" There is a graft
flying definiteness about this brief
statement OF the case. In respect to
the World Court of International JUS
1ice, Mr.. Coolidge favors il as 1.-THE
only practical plan on which many
nations have ever agreed, though it
may not meet every desire" and COM
mendS it to the favorable considera-
.tion, of the Senate, with the proposed
reservations clearly indicating our
refusal TO adhere to the league of
nations" ~ e..
Russia viii, not be recognized. in its
present state, as means to the end
OF promoting trade. 1.-THE favor of
America is not for sale When a
disposition appears there to compen-
safe our despoiled citizens, to recog-
nize the debt contracted by the re-
public, when the active spirit Of en-
nifty to our Institutions Is abated,
when works mete for repentance ap-
pear, we should be the first to go to
the economic and moral rescue of
Russia. iNOL. tiH tHGIl.
"A very great. service could be
rendered through the immediate en-
actment Of legislation relieving the
people Of some of the burden of taxa.
ton" This is paramount service
Congress should render. 1.-THE coun-
try wants this measure to have the
right OF way over. all others" The
President leaves details out Of his
present message, but expresses his
unqualified approval Of the plan of
Secretary Mellon" He wants taxes
reduced and puts the matter up to
Congress. .-. a......... p.
Railroad consolidation appears to
be the only feasible method for the
maintenance of an adequate system
OF transportation. with an opportunity
so to adjust freight rates as to meet
such temporary conditions as now
prevail in some agricultural sections"
The present law is not sufficiently ef
tective to be expeditions. New law
ID needed to permit voluntary con-
solidations. If the permissive, au-
thority should prove ineffective after
< limited period the Authority of the
government, will have to be directly
invoked" ~, ''-
Proposals for. the relief Of. tne5vet.
Grams of the. great war, submitted by
the American Legion, must be con-
sidered in an. attitude of generosity.
Some of those proposals the Presi-
dent does not favor. With others he
is in hearty accord. On one point he
is sufficiently explicit. He closes this
paragraph with the statement: But
I do not favor the granting Of g.
bonus" e. -. : :.
Farmers relief must come largely
through organization by the agricul.
turalists themselves, with diversified
Sion of crops. with regulation of
~fcreage, with competent management
OF systems Of cooperative marketing.
But there are means that, the govern.
ment can apply, especially in the ex-
tension of loans. The farmer, too,
must be relieved by Il reduction of
national and local taxation and BY, a
REORGANIZATION Of the freight.rate
structure No guarantee of wheat
prices would be helpful; 1t would, on
the contrary, be hurtful, by the stim-
ulation of larger wheat acreage. But
government assistance. to -exItorts is
feasible and this is urged
These are the "high points" in a
message that for clarity, simplicity
OF expression, directness of view and
frankness has never been surpassed
in the record of presidential ut.
terances., 1t is. a message full of
meat and, while it will doubtless be
assailed for. some Of its statements
by those who disagree, it will be gen.
orally applauded as a workable plat
form Of performances by : Congress
in carrying out the policies. approved
by the country in the election Of 1920.
A bloc has to be managed with dis.
erection to prevent it from becoming