The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-12-23
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Special Despatch to The Reformer')
Copyright 1920.

Especial Despatch TO The Retormer')
Copyright 1920.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 23.-Abnormal
economic conditions are producing abnor-
nal p~olitical divisions everywhere, but
he attitude of the Democrats toward the
emergency tariff bin about to be passed
Nv the house of representatives Is the
most significant thing that has happened
incc the political upheaval, which the
.ountlv experienced at the polls last No
.embcr.
In formally canvassing the Democrats
n the house the leaders found a Few days
lgo that about twO-thirds OF them We're
citing ready to vote for the FOrdney tarlt
iii and This. too. in spite of the fact that
he wool schedule Is much higher thal
he famous schedule X which President
raft finally admitted was "indefenslble.
Democratic leaders began to reason
With their brethren and found out that
feaI Of tbe farmers and the cattle-ralSers
vas at the bottom of the protectlohlst
ceiling of the Democrats who We're not
lfraid of Republican opposition, but the
,rosnect that protectiOniSt Democrats
night arise in the next primaries to CON
est their seats. The Democratic leaders
,oUnd that the Democratic rank and hle
tad been persuaded to believe that they
vouId not be held to task by low tariff
Democratic constituents for voting tor an
,mergeucv measure. The upshot OF the
conference. however, WAS n cohSlderaDle
.eturn to the original Democratic position
n the tariff and there Will not be as
,auy Democratic votes for the Fordney
,il as it seemed mt first. The vote now
yer. will be surprising. The contention
f the Democratic leaders * that II a
Democrat votes for the Principle OF pro
eCti0n i'm an emergency measure. ne Will
ind il difficult to oppose the tarlt measure
which the Republicans will offer a. a
permanent policy when the extra session
{ congress has been convened. How, IL -
asked. can a Democrat reverse himself
when the real tariff bills are before HIM
next spring. Accordingly, many Demo
rats. especially those in the senate are
announcing that they will bitterly oppose
he FOrdnpv bill when it reaches the upper
house and that they Will insist on thor
ugh discussion and considerable debate.
Democrats. however. will be found sup
PORTING the bill. Senators RamSdell and
Gay. of louisiana. as well ~ some west
nru Democrats in whose states the cattle
.aisfrS are clamoring for tariff protection
o stop the fall I'M the price of wool, will
'0rm a sturdy coalition which will assist
he Republicans materially in getting them
rhrough the senate. southern Democrats
IRE inclined to line up against the measure
rogether with some eastern Republicans
n the senate in whose states are men from
he concerns who want foreign markets
md fear a disturbance to trade If retalIa-
cory tariff wars are begun.
Senator Oscar Underwood. OF Alabama,
who knows the tariff question from "a
70 y because Of the part he played in
raining the present tariff laws, when he
was a member Of the house. is expected
back here in a day or two and will CON
suit with Senator Simmons and other
Democratic leaders concerning Il party
policy. Moreover, the Democratic ranks
in congress which show signs every now
and then of going to pieces on party poll
lies are apt to be strengthened when the
party conferences have been held after
he first of the year. The whole tariff
fort in the present session is regarded
by many Democrats as a shrewd effort on
he part of Republicans like Senator War
rem of Wyoming. who represents a cattle
raising state. to lay the foundations for a
nigh tariff in the extra session of congress.
| figuring that even President Harding will
not be able to oppose the imposition of
tariff duties that have already passed a
congress in which Republican majorities
are slender compared to overwhelming
( strength of the new congress.