Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-16
BOTH PARTIES
ARE INCLUDED
IN NEW GROUP
Wheat and Cotton | Have
Bridged Gap Between
West and Solid South
Senator Capper, Head
of Body, Is Staunch
Supporter Of Farmer.
BY r. G. MARSHALL
Special Cores spondent of The Tribune

Special Correspondent of The Tribune.
Copyright. 1921. by The Tribune.
Washington, Oct. 15.--What is the
agricultural bloc?" What is the new
and strange power which seems to
exert so complete control over con-
gress?
No new factor in national politics
in decade has figured so extensively
or so sensationally in the news; no
clement in d9ngress has been able to
hold such sway over the destines of
national legislation. 1t has brought
the European, national bloc to the
western hemisphere and it is follow
ing the "bloc' methods of old world
parliaments. It has set Washington
by the ears. 1t has called forth a
statement from President Harding
that he opposes class. Legislation and
group control. 1t has upset some OF
the best laid plans of the present
Republican leaders and it is potential
ia the evolution which is bringing the
west into secondary in the grand
old party.
, x,i Has Democratic Members
But the agricultural bloc is not
wholly Republican, not by any means.
In fact it depends for its effective
ness upon Democratic sympathy and
support. Wheat and cotton have
bridged the gap between the great
northwest and the "solid south
The group of senator's in virtual
control Of legislation in the upper
branch of congress known as the
farmer bloc, consists of not more than
20 men. the majority of whom, as
stated. are Republicans, all Of whom
hail from agricultural communities:
They are under the leadership OF
Senator Capper. Kansas. who created
the bloc: Senator Kenyon Of Iowa.
who came to it in early days and
strengthened it immensely, and who
leads the Democratic allies within it's
ranks. Kenyon and Capper, Repub-.
licans. are the directing heads and |
moving force Of the group.
The North Dakotaldaho called
the non-partisan league seems to have
started in way. somewhat as the
agricultural bloc has started. Instead
of being non-partisan. the bloc. how
ever, is bipartisan. The league part
of the simile holds through the cement
being the common interest of agricui- !
ture.
Capper Created Bloc.
Senator Capper. creator Of the bloc. |
comes from Kansas and is pioneer
champion of the farmer. In his home
state he is editor and owner of a string /
Of powerful farm magazines and pa /
pers. He is a power in his state, q |
good fellow as men appraise men. |
glutton for work. He is Do years Old |
and started in life as printers devil |
and left the governors chair to come /
to Washington. Always he has espous- |
ed the cause of the farmer.
Several months ago it seemed to him i
that the railroads and the other highly /
capitalized interests were crowding the
farmer into the corner in the matter
of obtaining relief. He conferred with /
several Of his colleagues close to the
farm and found that their views coin
cided with his own.
This was the beginning of the agri-
cultural bloc. The same senators still
meet often at the Capper home but the
group has grown from two or three to
nearly score and includes Demo
Gratis, as well as Republicans.
Ere long there was added to the Cap
per group the senator from Iowa. Mr.
Kenyon. as Il progressive had been in
terested in the farmer, of course. and
also, to marked extent, in uplift legis-
laticn. Naturally the group soon in
cluled. as well. Senator Norris of Ne
braska. chairman of the agriculture
committee. progressive and bitterly OPP
posed, apparently on general principles,
to almost everything that Senator Pen
rose and his group advocate. Senator !
of Wisconsin joined 50 did
Senator sAshurst of Arizona, Democrat
Bloc Keeps Growing.
Came also. impelled by the belief
thar the farmer was being crowded
from the map by relief legislation for
other classes. Senator Pat Harrison Of
Mississippi. young, vigorous, new
member in the senate and with big :
following of cotton growers. {.
This is pretty nearly what the coun- i.
try calls the agricultural bloc That +
is the group in control of legislation
in the senate today. 1t is told in the r
clonk rooms that when they took the Io
Mr.. Lodge into camp re- I
Gently it was under penalty of framing
q wider coalition with the Democrats.
Indications are. however, that the
bloc is out for more effective govern L
lncnt regulation of industry. Senator Id
Kenyon, one of two chairman leaders. La
introduced the other day bill to reg d
hate industry; Other regulatory +
measures 0eem destined to follow. The ih
farmer issin the saddle. It