The producers news., 1919-05-09
POLITICAL PLANS
OF STANDPATTERS
Next Congress Reactionary-Fa-
vorite Son Trick for 1920
Is Seen.
(By e. B. Fussell.l


gressive people of the United States
have very little to expect from the
Republican majority that viii come in
to power when congress conveues
again. And the trend of events else
where points to desire on the part
of the Republican leaders to follow a
.standpat congress in 1919 with
standpat president in 1920.
Actual control of affairs in the house
of representatives will rest with Jim
Mann of Illinois, friend of the packers,
and Uncle Joe" Cannon, also of Illi-
Mann nor Cannon will hold any off,
eial position. They will merely sit
back and pull the strings. Gillett Of
Massachusetts, a member of the house
for some "a years and said to be a
good golf player, will be speaker. Mr..
Gillett voted against suffrage, prohi-
bition and nearly every progressive
measure that has ever been before
the house. Mr. Mondell of Wyoming
will be majority leader. He has been
in congress for many years and is one
Of the few original standpatters left
in congress of the memorable minority
which defended Cannonism in 1910
when the majority of the house re-
belled against the czar.
New Tariff Planned.
Craftsmanship of all the important
committees in the house goes to stand
patters. Fordney of Michigan is chair
man of the ways and means commit
tee. Under the seniority rule, which
already has been adopted by the house,
Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania will
be chairman of the ways and means
committee of the upper house. These
committees will draft new tariff law,
raising the import duties to add to the
wealth of eastern manufacturers by
keeping out European imports. This
bill will probably be known as the
Penrose-Fordney bill.
Present plans in congress seem to
| be to start a series Of investigations Of
| the Wilson administration as soon as
| the special session of congress is con-
vened 1t Is realized that on num-
ber OF angles the Wilson administra-
ton is vulnerable to attack. The Re-
publicans apparently hope by their
series of investigations to discredit
thoroughly Mr.. Wilson, Secretary of
War Baker, Mr.. McAdoo, former secre-
tary of the treasury and director gen.
eral of railroads, and to prevent any
of these men from becoming candi-
dates for president in 1920.
These are the only men in the Demo
cratic party that are regarded as pro
gressives Or near progressives. With
them out of the way the Democratic
party will be forced to nominate a
standpatter for president. The Repub
licans fully intend to nominate a
standpatter. Between Republican
standpatter and a Democratic stand
patter the Republican should easily
win.
Favorite Sons Advanced.
With a view toward being able tt
bring out and nominate a reactionarJ
Republican for president, thoroughly
agreeable to the inner councils and II
Wall street interests, efforts are al
ready being made to encourage mum
ber of "favorite SONS" to enter thu
race. Senator Borah of Idaho and Sen
ator Poindexter of Washington are be
ing played up strongly in Republican
papers, with the expectation that eacl
man can get the delegation from hi
home state to the Republican conven
tion. On his recent visit to the Twil
Cities, Republican Chairman Wi
| Hays lauded Senator Kellogg of Mime
\ sofa as "the supremest statesman" @
/ the nation. and forthwith a presider
/ tial boom for Kellogg was started, a
i most overnight. Governor Lowden c
Il Illinois is being put forward as an Ill
4 nois candidate Senator Lenroot {
Il Wisconsin is also getting encourage
Il ment in an effort to keep the Wiscol
81 sin delegation from going to Senate
4 La Toilette.
4 How Trick VIII Work.
The very apparent aim is to hav
. each state delegation come to the X
publican national convention in 49,
pledged to some faVOrlte son. NO OIL
u will have anywhere near a majorit
f The delegates will be allowed to ballt
l., for q few hours until it is apparel
that no choice is possible. Then II
= inner circle of the Republican part
Il will come forward with some ''dal
II horse" fully acceptable to the fina
e cial interests that will provide cal
q paign finances, He will be nominate
n as the only man to save the situate
: 1t will perhaps be some man who hi
a never been considered at all as ca
" didate; some man whom the people
n not know intimately. He will be p
% over" with rush. and then will con
! another Mark Hanna campaign I
~ prosperity and full dinner pail"