The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-02-28
HARDING HAS Been
AGGRESSIVE LEADER

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-Aggres-
Sive, but not spectacular, describes
the HMarding leadership in national
affairs, stated a prominent business
man. The Republican administration
came into power in March, 1921, when
the country was in an industrial de-
preston, with farmers at the bottom
of the depression. There were millions
unemployed, there was a tremendous
inflow of aliens threatening to in
crease the number of unemployed;
there was imminent danger of IN
creased inflow of foreign products, to
the injury of home industry; there
was widespread complaint of heavy
taxation; there was a well organized
propaganda having for its purpose the
supreme sacrifice" of American in
dependence for the benefit of Europe.
That resume covers some of the
problems the Republican administra-
ton had to meet. President Harding
proved to be an aggressive leader.
He at once called a special session of
Congress, which at his suggestion en-
acted measures for the special relief
of the agricultural producers, who
were going over the brink of bank
ruptcy. An emergency tariff law
gave some help; a revival of the War
Finance Corporation gave more help;
an enlargement of the work of the
federal farm loan board also contrib
uted to the effort to save American
agriculturists from the destructive
effects of the kind of deflation that
had been inflicted upon them; a more
liberal credit policy in the federal re.
, serve system did it's part. The farm.
ers of the country will testify that
the sort of aggressive leadership ex
ercised by Mr.. Harding did a lot o.
. good.
Developments on the Pacific eoas
were such as to indicate danger O.
o war. Moreover, competition in naya
n construction was preventing reduction
of taxes. President Harding, u ag
gressive leader, called a conference o
all the nations interested, secured
= settlement of the far eastern dispute
and also secured an agreement 70
8 limitation of ornaments.
On the recommendation OF the pres
h ident, Congress passed an "Americ
first" protective tariff law, an effect
h i've law for checking of undesirabl
? immigration, and a budget law, ur
der which government expenses hav
.o o10,,,, o,1clv roHuoad
Isl The president took an aggressiv
position on foreign affairs by ono
W and for all declaring that this cour
try will not interfere with Europea
disputes, and, while always willin
g to help in any proper way, will retail
IS it's free and unlimited right to deter
N mine for itself when and where an
Is in what manner it shall help. Unde
a his aggressive leadership we did e.
tend help to the suffering in Russia
we deferred the collection of eithe
principal or interest on the debt du
us from European nations; We sue
d gested the only practical plan b
which there seemed to be any like
n lihood of settlement of European rel
aration controversies without resoI
to arms.
vi President Harding has been an ag
gressive leader without being spec
; ~tacular. He has led quietly and wise
ly, not loudly and foolishly. He ha
: not paved the earth, nor shaken hi
horns high in the air, nor believe
threats. He has not assumed pos
session of omnipotent virtue nor c
omnipotent wisdom. His aggressive
y ness has been in performance of hi
e own constitutional duties and not i
y usurpation of the duties of Others
His is the sort of aggressiveness {
which this country has been long
need, and that aggressive leadershi
lie has been welcomed by the people :
;" the country.