The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-10-12

must be passed quickly in order to
save the country Upon their re-
turn, after commingling with their
constituents, Congressman began to
have doubts as to the necessity of
any hurried action. Some of them
thought II would be just as well to
let the bill go over to the next ses-
sion, and others had doubts as to
whether any tariff bill should be
passed at all. They had heard from
the country. They had learned dur
ing their recess that their efforts to
fool the people with a hodge-podge
piece of guess work like the Fordney
tariff bill had not fooled anybody.
They learned what almost everybo-
dy else already knew that they
could not erect tariff wall around
this country and expect to continue
foreign trade or expect the debtor
nations of Europe TO pay interest or
any part thereof upon their war
debts to this country.
President Harding, who advocat-
ed a high protective tariff through
out his election campaign, and In
many of his public addresses since.
has also received enlightenment,
and, according to the public press,
President Harding now believes
there is no need for a permanent
tariff legislation at this session."
In no other respect has the ad-
ministration, both in the executive
and legislative branches, shown its
incompetence in handling an eco
nomic matter as in its proposed
tariff legislation. 1t was not, how
ever, until business and banking in
terests and agriculturists lifted a
chorus of protest against the Re-
publican tariff plan, not to mention
many leading Republicans in both
houses Of Congress, that any heed
was paid by the reactionary element
which rules in the House and in 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
Spells System
The extent to which this admins
tration apparently will go in en-
forcing the spells system is illustrat-
ed by the removal by President Har-
ding of l.. C. Thoresen, United
States Surveyor General for Utah.
President .Harding's letter of remOv-
al, dated Sept. 10, said.
you are hereby removed from
the office of Surveyor General of
Utah, to take effect upon the APP
pointment and qualification of your
successor"
Prior to this President Harding
had written to Mr.. Thoresen sug-
costing his resignation, and saying
among other things, Il need not tell
you of the current demand for the !
recognition of aspirants within our
own party for consideration in the
matter of patronage" In other |
words, the Republicans wanted and
needed the job. |
Mr.. Thoresen replied, explaining
that the term for which he was ap- |
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
1.-The plans and policies of the adj
ministration," to which Mr.. Harding
had referred in his letter, could in
any way change or modify the form
of duties of Surveyor General.
Then came the application of 1.-THE
strong arm" i'm the form of the let
ter of removal and the appointment
of one E. ID. Sorensen.
That this administration is to re-
turn to the spoils system. which has
been the policy of all other Repub-
lican reactionary administrations.
causes no surprise to Democrats, but
already a note of protest is heard
in the Republican press. The New
York Tribune of Sept. 26. says of
the Thoresen case:
THE Thoresen argument is strong,
A time will come when some Presi-
con WI respect the rule that Off
ces, admin strative in fact, are not
spoils. We wish President Harding
would seize the opportunity to dis
tinguish himself. Unless Sorensen
is obviously the best man, or there
are other reasons not yet divulged.
IL looks as If some of the Presidents