The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-10-14

efforts TO fool the people with
hodge-podge piece of guess work like
the Fordney tariff bill had not fooled
anybody. They learned what almost
everybody else already knew that
they could not erect tariff wall
around this country and expect to con-
tinue foreign trade or expect the
debtor nations of Europe to pay inter-
war debts to this country.
President Harding, who advocated
"A high protective tariff throughout his
campaign, and in many Of his public
addresses since, has also received en-
ligntenment, and, according to the
public press, president Harding now
believes there is no need for a per-
manent tariff legislation at this ses-
sion"
In no other respect has the ad-
ministration, both in the executive
and legislotive branches, shown its
incompetence in handling an economic
matter as in its proposed tariff leg
islation. II was not, however, until
business and banking interests and
agriculturalists lifted chorus Of pro-
test against the republican tariff plan,
not TO mention many leading repub-
licans in both houses of congress, that
any heed was paid by the reaction
AIRY element which rules in the house
and the senate. Now they are back
at the beginning apparently without
any definite idea what TO do about
the tariff.
strong Arm" Enforcement Of the
Spoils System.
The extent to which this admins
tration apparently will 20 in enforc-
ing the spoils system Is illustrated by
the removal by President Harding Of
]. G. Thoresen, United States survey
or general for Utah. President Hard
10, said:
"You are hereby removed from the
Office Of surveyor general Of Utah, to
take effect upon the appointment and
qualification of your successor"
Prior to this Pre- sident Harding had
written TO Mr.. Thorensen suggesting
mis- resignation, and saying among
other things, 81 need not tell you of
the current demand for the recogni-
tion of>aspirants within our own par
ty for consideration in the matter Of
patronage" In other words the re-
publicans wanted and needed the job.
Mr.. Thoresen replied, explaining
that the term for which he was APP
pointed had not yet ended, and that
he was the first and only person who
had been requested TO resign without
being accused Of neglect Of duty. He
did not understand how "the plans and
policies of the administration" 20
which Mr.. Harding had referred in his
letter, could in any way change or
modify the form of duties Of sur
veyor general.
Then came the application Of the
strong arm" in the form of the letter
Of removal and the appointment OF
one. j.. ID. Sorcn@en-
That this administration II TO re-
turn 20 the spoil system, which has
been the policy Of all other repub-
Leans, causes no surprise 20 demo-
Gratis. but already note Of protest
i- heard in the republican press. The
New York Tribune of Sept 2s says Of
the Thofesen case:
Tine ThofenSen argument Is strong.
A time will come when some president
will respect the rule that Offices, adj
ministrative in fact, are not spoils.
We wish President Harding would
seize the opportunity to distinguish
himself. Unless Sorensen Is obviously
the best man, or there are other rea-
sons not yet divulged, it looks as IL
some Of Harding'S advisers on polit-
ical appointments had shown unneces-
sary zeal in their search for posi-
tsnVa Tor ,f.aorxsno raot,hi;~.na-