Evening star., 1921-11-20
SURRENDER ON TAX
SETBACK TO G. O. P.
Continued from First Page

has displayed itself at various times
IN the interests of special classes
such as agriculture, union labor
service men and social reformers
ihese special interests are never sc
powerful as when the legislative BODY
IS uneVenly divided-as. for example
IN the House today, with 3O1 repub-
means and 131 democrats
A striking example was when the
democratic floor leader took charge
OF the House on Thursday and held
IL Tor an hour. al, the end Of which he
moved the previous question. This
performance was made possible hy
the agricultural interests Joining with
tne democrats on the SO per cent sur.
tax. The sentiment of the special in
terests was 30 strong that 1t could
successlully, by joining the democrats
minority @A'e
This has been done before in the
interests OF union labor in the in
terests of soldier legislation. and
quite often in the interests of social
reformers The danger involved is
couched in a leadership usually domi-
ciled at the capital, which presumes
to speak for all the members of the
group.
Leadership Ii Concerned
The republican leadership is deeply
concerned over the future results of
this method Of control. This Con-
gress, with the President. is under
pledges to relieve the Industrial stu
alton. The greatest obstacle is in
the confiscatory tax system. which
Industry, where 1t employs labor, and
induces 1t to invest in productive
channels upon which there is no tax.
This reduces at once the employ
ment and the revenue to the govern
ment
The administration Is alive to This
problem. The country has been look
ing to 1t for relief. The republicans
are held responsible. The republican
party leaders are pointing out now
to those who Joined with the minority
that 1t is not enough to say to the
people OF the country who have been
looking for Industrial relief that 1t
was the democrats who obstructed
the republican program, because the
democrats are such q small minority
that they are impotent for obstruc-
tion unless aided by republicans.
Fear Group Control
The remarkable success of President
Harding on the promise Of limitation
Of ornaments has given the greatest
pie, and the republican managers feel
success Is assured. unless it is en-
tirely null.hed by the effect Of group
control on behalf Of particular inter-
eStS.
The real republican leaders. from
President Harding down, are now en-
deavoring to convince the party rep
resentatives from agricultural SEC
tions that they are not only endanger-
ing the prospects of party success,
but that they are also defeating their
own ends. They are pointing out that
the rural sections, which are princi-
pally agricultural, must look to the
centers employing the labor Of the
country in industry for a market in
which to sell the products Of their
farms.
Any legislation that drives capital
into hiding and thus closes industries
which heretofore employed the labor
of the country is just as dangerous
as a cheap money policy that drives
sound money out Of circulation, the
republican party leaders are stress
ing. They are assuring the agricul-
tural groups that they will find their
indirect interests are in opening the
markets which are to purchase their
products.