The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-02-12
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
President and His Critics
Accuse Each Other of
Playing Politics.
by EDWARD W. PIcKARD

by EDWARD W. PIckARD
DREsIDENT COOLIDGE, personally
in conversation with the Washing
ton correspondents and then through
a White House spokesman, told the
country last week that the critics of
his administration were playing poll
ticss and should not be taken too seri-
ously. Mr.. Coolidge alluded apparent
ly to the investigations of the Depart
ment Of Justice for failure to proceed
against Secretary Melons aluminium
company, to charges by Senator Nor
RS that the President exerted ques-
tionable influence to keep the tariff
board from making sugar tariff recon-
mendatfons before the election of last
fall, and to attacks made on the fed
eral trade commission. Mr.. Coolidge
said these charges were unfounded,
that the government was not derelict
in enforcing the law and that such at
taeks were seasonal, coming in years
in which Presidential elections were
held.
No sooner were these statements
made public than Senator Pat Har-
rison of Mississippi arose in the SEN
ate to express his great indignation at
them. He described Mr. Coolidge as
a "matchless politician" and said: st
does not become a resident of the
White House to tell the country that
all the speeches here are to have a
political tinge. There are political
speeches made here, and we invite the
President to make his political
speeches, whether he makes them to
the farmers in the West or the cham
Der of commerce in New York. He has
not made single speech from that In
New York to the fy-by-night Journey
to Chicago but that was an effort to-
win favor with the people-playing
politics in his speeches. When he per-
suaded some gentlemen on the other
side Of the aisle to change their views
with respect to international peace in
the world he performed one Of the
seven wonders of the world"
a MONG the important statements
"A Of the Presidents attitude, ema-
mating from the White House are
these:
The President Is disappointed by
the p0stponement by the League of
Nations of preparations for a disarma-
ment conference, and If the leagues
conference does not materialize, Mr..
Coolidge will return to his original
plan to convene in Washington another
conference on further reduction of
naval ornaments.
Mr.. Coolidge is still as much op-
posed as ever to the United States
Joining the League of Nations, be-
lieves the country still overwhelming
ly determined to stay out, and regards
our entrance into the World court not
a step toward the league, but a DEM
OnstratiOn of our care to avoid league
ENHANCEMENT.
The President condemns publicity
statements emanating from the War
and Navy departments charging de-
terioration of our national defenses,
characterizing them as misrepresenta-
tions, designed to obtain larger ap-
preparations. Mr.. Coolidge regards the
condition of the army and navy as
satisfactory.
ERMANY'S application for men,
~ bership in the League of Nations
probably will have reached Geneva be-
fore this is published and it is expect
ed that Sir Eric Drummond, the Sec
rotary general, will convoke an ex-
traordinary session of the council at
once to act on it. The next procedure
will be special meeting of the as
sembly, probably in March, to take
Germany in formally. The foreign af-
fairs committee of the reichstag by a
vote of IS to s decided to apply for
membership and the presidents of all
the German states were summoned to
Berlin for a final discussion of the
form of application. Germany will be
the t1fty-sixth member of the league.
Occupation of the first zone in the
Rhineland by the allies Qme to an
end when the last Bi troops