AMERICAN POLITICS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1923, Page 5

AMERICAN POLITICS

PRESIDENT AND PUBLIC. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.} NEW YORK, December 8. The country appears to have., reacted favourably to .President Coolidge’s first Congressional . message. The newspapers unanimously* praise his courageous, outspoken opposition to the - soldiers’ bonus and his advocacy of tax reduction. Some papers express regret over President Coolidge’s alleged timidity in approving only of the World Court instead of entry into the League of Nations; The popular reception of the message centres approval chiefly upon the attitude to taxation and the bonus. Congressional action upon Mr Cool'ddge’s proposals seems difficult to predict, owing to vigorous .democratic opposition, abetted by Radical Republicans, who are eager to forestall constructive attempts of Republicans, in order to cancel any possible advantage at the political convention next summer. Thus the Republican Leaders predict the soldiers’ bonus will be passed by ■ Congress, and vetoed by the President. The taxation'reduction proposals will be bitterly opposed, and the approval of the world Court doubtful, in view of the judicious jockeyings by the Democrats and Radical Republicans. The latter undoubtedly hold the whip hand for the ensuing session, and openly reveal their intention to lash the Republican and Democratic ' regulars mercilessly.