Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-09-28

By Walter w. Liggett):'

(By Walter w. Liggett)
Washington, d.. c.. Sept. 26-Con,
gress is back on the job facing a
crowded calendar and Republican
leaders realize they must. speed up
II the Administration program mea-
suress pass before the regular session
begins in December. The tariff, tax
atom, railroad loan, and foreign loan
reminding bills have the right.ef4way
and the President insists that they be
put through with" as little delay as
possible. The first three of these mea:
sures already have passed the House,
but they will have rougher and slower
shedding in the Senate. There is no
doubt. of course, that the tariff and
taxation measures eventually will
pass, but they may be somewhat. am
ended through; the efforts of the pro-
gressive group headed by LaFcllette
The fate of the railroad loan is more
problematical. A bitter fight will be
made on this measure, but the Presi-
dent can exert tremendous pressure
and Harding is determined to push it
through
arm may 6e delayed
There is strong possibility that
consideration of. the tariff may be
postponed unit; after the first of the
year. President Harding wants it
enacted imm ediately, burt some OF the
Senate leaders think world conditions
are changing so rapidly that enact
ment of permanent law at this time
is both difficult and dangerous. There
also is, a growing protest against the
American valuation" plan and the
excessive duties Of the Fordney bill
The United States has become an ex
porting country since the war and as
tute businessmen realize they cannot
sell goods to Europe unless we take
Europe's goods in return. The Ford
ney bill duties in many cases are pro-
h1bitive and would result in the
speedy drying up of our foreign com
merce. Even such staunch stand.
patter as Boise Penrose recently ad-
mitted that the schedules were too
high and he<is holding the bill in com.
mittee until it is thoroly revised.
Penrose Bill Opposed
Strong opposition is developing to
the Penrose bill, which gives the. Sec
rotary OF the Treasury blanket power
to extend the time of repayment of
European loans without consulting
Congress- The President is very
anxious to have this bill passed before
the sO-called disarmament conference
meets, but there is considerable OBJ
lection in many quarters and this
measure is sure to encounter some
rough going Pacifsts oppose the
bill on the ground that European na-
tions could repay the el3ven billion
dollars they owe the United States if
they would reduce their military ex-
penditures. They want the United
States to insist upon payment and
thus compel world disarmament. Sym
pathiZers with the Irish republic ask
that Great Britain, in particular, be
forced to pay its debt instead of US
ing these funds to coerce Ireland with
al armed force. In addition, there is
another great body of American citi-
Zens who sees no reason why Congress
should surrender its constitutional
perOgatives and give the AGministra-
ton power to use eleven billion dol
lars Of the peoples money as counters
in a game Of dollar diplomacy"
Secret Alliance Is Seen
Harding wants this power so that he
standing with Great Britain and ia
pan at the coming disarmament con-
ference II he can extend the stag
gering sum which England owes Am
erica he will have something definite
to offer in return for advantages
which American diplomats will seek.
A,ro ,11&S n ~
a secret armament between the Uni
ted States, Great Britain and japan
ITO act as trustees for the interests of
China and Russia is the real purpose
of the conference. The above quoted
cial high in the Administration. 1t
would be a breach of confidence to
disclose his name, but he clearly re-
ing and his advisors.
Real Disarmament improbable
AS the date of the conference ap-
proaches, the Administration is max.
ing it apparent that we must not ex.
pect the millennium to result" Score
tary Hughes used: these words the
other day in talking to group, OF
newspaper men and Harding himself
Ado Repeatedly SlcStSN Iudt IL ID lOOA-
ish to suppose the conference will
put an end to war. The administra-
TONS purpose is plain. It knows it
is dangerous politically to arouse high
hopes which must be dashed by later
Developments so it is subtly opening
up a line of retreat by psychological
preparation. The Borah resolution
was forced through by genuine SEN
timent for disarmament Harding at
first opposed the resolution, but he
bowed before the storm Of protest and
then suddenly realized that it offered
him an opportunity for putting over
an "assoCiation of nations" under
the camouf1age Of disarmament. The
Invitations to the conference followed,
and now the "moulders of public or
inion" are. gradually debating the
balloon Of hope so that the political
reaction will not be too great when the
failure to limit armament finally be.
comes manifest.
Western Republicans Fearful .:
There is strong undercurrent Of
dissatisfaction among middie-western
Republicans over the reactionary
tendencies OF the Harding; adElinistra
ton. Members from the middle-west
report widespread Gisconteat among
Sl~.f rH<Nk,