The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-07
COOLIDGE I ALLS. IN J0HN5ON'S TRAP.
Presidents Stand On Bonus And World Court Is What
 California Man Hoped For
By RAYMoND CLApPER

Geased Wire to The AgeHerald)
 WASHINGTON, Dec 6.-As pre- sentation of the conservative case, President Coolidge's message to Con" Sress was 8. masterly piece of work. He showed considerably more cour- age in speaking his mind in face ot hostile sentiment on the world court and the bonus than some of his crit ics reveal. That much is in his favor
 But nevertheless he has fallen into the trap which Hiram Johnson set for him. Perhaps Coolidge fell into it Wittlngly, but at any rate he IS Tn. He is committed to the world court and against the soldier bonus. For the present that is all that Johnson wants.
 The reaction to this message, which reveals the man in the White House for he first time, may be summarized about like this:
 To the country at large, President Coolidge has shown himself to be man of conviction and courage, a conservative without any apologies. The country likes a President who is honest, even though what he urges may be upopIlar. This will help Coolidge-indeed it is his greatest asset at this moment.
 Upon Congress, Coolidge made less favorable impression. Anyone who witnessed the cold, silent row of SeHdlDTS WnO 1eluSed lO dppidto Ati'' indorsement of the world court Thursday, would say that the Presi- dent is likely to be ignored in thls matter. Senator Lodge, chairman or the foreign relations committee, IS opposed to the court. Hiram Johh- son, Moses of New Hampshire, Mc- Cormick Of Illinois, Watson of h. diana, other republican members or the committee, are hostile.
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 Little Applause On Bonus stand.
 This writer predicts that the world court proposal will never see the light of day during the pesent Con gress. Il will just be Forgotten.
 As to the bonus, the scattered ap- plause which met the Presidents flat declaration against it. reflects the temper of a Congress which is about to come up for reelection. Posslply a majority of the voters do not want a bonus. But the American Legion is conducting an organized campalsh, and they, intend to make their lnfiu- ence felt It is hard to believe that a majority of each House will De willing to resist this pressure. Friends of the bonus claim i've 10 one in the House and about two 10 one in the Senate-whichs would mean that it could pass over presi- tential veto. Coolidge is going to be in difficulty if he is overruled on the world court and the bonus both.
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 Ignored Revolution.
 Furthermore, Coolidge ignored the bloodless revolution which has Just been completed under his nose in the House. That revolution demonstrated that the insurgents have the power to force through what they want.
 Coolidge may feel that President should keep his hands off of Con- gress, but just the same, the country looks to it's President, rather than to Congress, for results, and Coolidge will be strangely different from any other President if he can keep his hands off affairs at the capitol.
 His message did not help in any degree toward paving the way for White House leadership in legisla- tion. He took a stiff-necked atti- tude which at once put the insurg ents on the war path. It is certain that he will hear from them later.
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 Heads Conservative Wing.
 As to the effect of the messa ge upon the presidential contest, Cool idee definitely placed himself at the