The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-29
PROGRESSNES IN
LINE, But WANT
REFORM IN TAXES
League Already at Work,
Says Correspondent, in
Discussing Decisions to
Abate Navy Construction.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
The News Sclmltar's Special Core
spondent.

day Of Il told you so" In the nationa
capitol. Those who never believed ther,
would be a serious fight by the Pro
eressive Republicans against the selec'
ton Of Senator Penrose for the chair
nanship OF the finance committe,
claimed vindication.
Those who never believed Secretary
Daniels wanted a navy second L
none or a navy that would riva
| Great Britain's in quantity OF warships
pointed to his statement before thu
house naval affairs committee, with
Craving his recommendations of last
autumn, as proof that the administra'
ton never meant II In the first place
Lastly, those who have been Insist
ing that President Wilson wouldn't rur
for n third term today flourishet
marked copies of his speech in Paris
before their respective audiences In the
cloak rooms Of congress and elsewhere
es confirmation OF the impression previ-
ously conveyed hat Mr.. Wilson was
not looking ahead to another term o.
| office, but regarded his second term
as the end Of his official career.
Open Conference.
As for the open conference Of the
Republicans, wherein the Progressives
were permitted to say sundry things
With the reporters present about PEN
roses taxation ideas, It was a splendid
~ staged affair with not a superfluous
word spoken and not an unnecessary
threat made.
The Progressives want 1t clearly I'M
derstood that they don't like Penrose
ecause they themselves favor the re-
duction of the income taxes, or rather
the revision Of the taxes, In such fash
ion that the burdens will be differently
distributed than they are now.
Senator Borah demanded that the
conference be open, and, while all end
ed harmoniously enough with only eight
votes cast against Senator Penrose,
most OF which will not be cast again
when the actual organization voting
takes place on the floor Of the senate,
the fight Is a rather significant one
Just the same
None OF the Progressive Republicans,
including Senator Borah, would go 80
far ms to throw the senate into the
hands OF the Democrats so the election
Of Penrose Is a f~oregone conclusion.
But the ideas the Progressives have
been talking about-these will be heard
from again. Out West he granger
movement Is strong, Senator Borah
himself had the Endorsement of the
Nonpartisan league IN his campaign Tor
re- collection last fall, Many farmers
both inside and outside that league
have n notion that Penrose would re-
wise the Income taxes so that the
wealthy manufacturers would have an
easier time Of II. The grangers, how
ever, think the wealthy ought to bear
the chief burden and that Industry
should absorb increasingly large
amounts OF u national Indebtedness
by excess profits taxes, What we are
seeing today is that beginning of a
revival Of Senator La Follette's taxa
ton proposal with the Progressives of
the West lining up against the conser-
Native Republicans from states where
big Industry IL located.
Senator Borah hints at n cleavage
In the party, He is always doing that,
| however, and the chances are the Re-
publican party Is not going to be split
| wide open right away, though, II the
Eastern conservatives make no con
cessions whatsoever on taxation meas
ures-that Is hardly likely-there may
be political advantage In the ARRAY t
the Democrats whose ideas tend to CO.
iucide with those espoused by the Pro-
gressive Republicans.
Secretary Dariels didn't give all his
reasons for n change Of front will
regard TO the naval program, but thu
Democrats are not going to be In the
position OF asking the American PEG.
1 llNt va ~ obp h"iiu W buJ "At
for increased armament, and to try Il
assure them, on the other hand, tha'
n league OF nations safeguards thu
United States against war.
Big Navy Proposition.
the secretar OF the navy knew al
this, Of course when he first propose,
sailed for Europ., but, !: members o
congress had read over again the nava
bill OF 1913, they would have dlscov
cred that a provision therein specifical
ly stated that the building of new ship
must be suspended whenever there wa
an international agreement about ava
armament,
Indeed. the covenant Of the league o
nations has not yet been ratified. an
the provision In II relating to disarma
ment simply creates an internations
commission to study the question, g
the administration could stick to its re
cent program.
But the suspension Of co~nstructIo
by Great Britain and other countries
the real factor In Americas decision
The rivalry In afmaments IL bein
brought to an end by the agreements
the league Of nations covenant. Ems
land feels that America will protect HI
against unprovoked attack on the sea
Just as the. United states feels that 81
should not have the biggest navy In II
world so long as all police power
pooled through the potentiality OF Il
league OF nations,
Incidentally, President wilson's veil,
reference to a retirement from Off
with the next presidential election ga'
stimulus to those who have been hoplr
that the Republicans would not en-
brace the suggestion Of making a par
fight against the league OF nations
Eenator HorAh and othere are uFNfnk
For Party Reasons.
Many Republicans who have be-
' against the league, owing to the fei
that Mr.. Wilson might derive s%uttlcie
strength from II II unanimous
adopted, to enable him to run Tor ?
fee again now ,wfl be able 70 iudI
Asefor making a partisan question
the league controversy, there Ia reas'
to believe the Republican leaders a
not going TO he stAmpeded into su,
action. MIR. Wilson, they know. ma
the biggest political mistake of \
career. when he gave the impression
p~arttsanshlp In the midst OF war Ia
action against those who may seek
treat In partisan fashion the propose
of a president Tor the safeguarding
the peace OF the United States.
by Withdrawing from the arena
presidential politics and appealing
the people as a disinterested public se
want, Mr.. WILSON,. 1t Is admitted by r
puhltcans themselves, would be In
Infinitely stronger position than II
tried 10 run for office on a league
nations platform,
from Paris and elsewhere about Pre-,
dent Wilson'S desire 70 retire, from