Evening star., 1924-05-08
Congress and the Primaries.

dent Coolidge as against Senator
Hiram Johnson is the latest Of a vir-
tually unbroken series of indorse-
ments in the states. His forty five or
fifty thousand majority there is an
impressive showing of public ap-
proval, in view OF the fact that his
opponent in the primary was the
states ''favorite son. In other states
where no local candidate appeared
the primary majorities given him
have been large, in most cases over
whelming.
These primary votes are significant
Of a countrywide appreciation not
only of the Presidents personality,
with it's characteristics of honesty,
courage and level-headedness, but of
his course and policies in the brief
period of his incumbency. They
should be considered by the Repub-
lican members of Congress, House and
Senate, as their guides in shaping
the legislation upon which their party
will so to the country in the coming
campaign.
Mr.. Coolidge urges tax revision.
The country approves. He asks the
enactment of a law which will reduce
the taxes literally and at the same
time release capital from excessive
imposts to permit investment in in
dustrial enterprises, to maintain the
,in 1f
partisan purposes the opposition in
the Congress, Democrats and pro-
gressive Republicans, are seeking to
frame the tax measure in such
manner as to force a veto, thereby
permitting the campaign claim that
the President and his party are not
sincere in their desire for tax re-
vision.
1t is vitality important to the Re
publican party that it go to the coun-
try with an accomplished fact in the
matter of tax reduction. A veto, how
ever justified by the failure of the
legislation to measure up to the
standard of genuine, helpful revision
urged by the President and the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, would not be
an accomplishment. For party pur-
the Republican majority in Congress,
which has the votes to pass a tax
bill in general accord with the Presi-
dents views, should take cognizance
nf ha trN-
at the primaries, and put before him
a measure which he can conscien-
tiously sign.
In the matter of the bonus bill, too,
his stand is positively known. He
has stated his position clearly. He
has himself ''gone to the country on
that matter in his candidacy for in
dorsement and nomination The pri-
public response on this subject as on
others.
In the matter of foreign relations,
as affected by the immigration law,
the arrangement just proposed by the
conference committee to give period
before japanese exclusion is effective
to permit friendly arrangement with
Japan is likewise matter Of con-
sideration. The President has. Just
won out in California, the state most
interested in this question. His views
were known. He has received a heavy
majority over California's senator and
most popular Republican. Had his
position been obnoxious to that state
he could not have gained this en-
phatic Endorsement for the nomina-
ton.
These primary votes should be
taken by the Republican majority In
Congress- majority in enumeration
if not in action heretofore-as a dis
tinct mandate for harmonious, con-
structive legislative procedure to
yield the results for which their party
leader-already. in effect, their nomi-
nee for the Presidency-stands before
the country.