Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-05-01

majority of the republican senators think 1t Is
the best policy for them to think about it is a
clear declaration that they view this great ques-
tion from partisan standpoint. However, we
do not believe they can control the republican
members Of the senate to that extent In fact
few of them have already made public record OF
their approval or disapproval.
The next congress gives plenty Of signs in adj
vance Of its strong partisan feelings. 1t was
perhaps to be expected in view of the fact that
a presidential election is approaching. The re-
publican partisans will want to make strong
effort to bend all legislation to the purpose OF
getting votes for their party in 1920 But the
outlook before them is not very happy one at
best. Their majority in the senate depends on
Senator La Toilette and the non partisan league
senator from North Dakota, and both Of them,
judging from their past record, are not very re-
liable. They are liable to take the bit in their
teeth at any stage of the game. In fact the di-
vision between the old guard republicans and the
so-called progressves is already getting strongly
accentuated. Senators Penrose, Smoot and 9TH
ers of the same kidney are not inclined to take
orders from the late boilers Of their party con-
vention, and the boilers are serving notice on
them that they did not return to the G. O. 2. as
repentant prodigals, but as veal eaters with a
mission to run the old ranch. The New York
Evening Post discussing the matter says
Senator Hitchcock was asked what he
thought of the outcroppng Of factions in both
parties who were anxious to be recorded on the
right side when congress votes upon forward
looking program. There must be some sort of
compromise worked out he said. There viii be
representatives Of both extremes of political con-
viction. The fact that the house and the senate
will be republican and the president democrat
will force an agreement if anything IS to be
passed at the coming session. The republicans,
if they wanted to make an issue. could put thru
legislation which the president undoubtedly
would veto, thus forcing an issue for the next
campaign. The republicans are not united
there are the extreme conservatives, Penrose,
Brandegee and others, and the radicals such as
La Toilette, Kenyon and Johnson Of California.
Tt would be difficult to put thru such pro-
gram
The republican majority in the lower house is
ample enough for ordinary partisan purposes,
but such is not the case in the upper chamber Of
congress and we expect the republican leaders
of the senate will spend some sleepless nights
over the matter when congress convenes. That
is why Senator Lodge and Senator Kenyon are
SO anxious to keep any of the republican sem
ators from expressing any opinion on the re-
vised covenant Of the league Of nations. They
do not know yet what attitude on that question
will pay them best as party. We think we
could tell them, but know the advice would not
be appreciated. However, that consideration
does not restrain us from saying that political
wisdom and partisan advantage also is most
likely to come from their abandonment of the
attempt to gag their party senators on this SUBJ
ject and treating it as matter entirely outside
Of partisan considerations. Their effort to pre-
vent any expression of opinion on the subject
from republican senator's shows that they do not
think that advice good.