Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-22
REPUBLICAN CHIEFS
WORRIED BY BLOC"
ACTION IN CONGRESS
BY ROBERT T. SMALL
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921

w ~ l. oANp ANSFs w 41AA
the end of the special session of
congress in sight, Republican lead
ers are frankly worried as to the
course Of national legislation in the
regular session. the beginning of
which is but fortnight away.
The spirit of party revolt, or
"bloc" control which started in the
senate has spread to the house and
it would seem that President Har-
ding's worst fears as to the results
Of attempted government by
groups" may prove justified.
Republican leaders make no secret
of the seriousness with which they
regard developments in congress
and the matter already has been the
subject of a series of informal but
very earnest conferences. The open
defiance of the president by ninety
four Republican members of the
house who voted with the Demo
Gratis on Thursday to defeat the
presidents suggestion of 40 per
cent maximum surtax in the reve-
nue. bill, coupled with Democratic
gains in the scattered elections held
this year, has created situation
which is viewed with anything but
equanimity. Mr.. Harding has not
attempted to hide his frank disap-
pointment over the action of the
house.
Day by day events in congress
tend to confirm the~~fact that the
western elements in congress are
taking control away from the east.
All but q handful Of the representa-
tives who refused to listen to the
advice Of President Harding on the
tax bill are from the middle west
from the states which fostered the
progressive" movement in 1910 and
1912 and brought disaster to the Taft
administration.
Explanation Sought
Casting about for an explanation
of the situation in congress, men of
fuse to admit that party leadership
has broken down through any fault
Of the chosen leaders. These lead
ers have met condition with which
it has been all but impossible to
deal, 1t was fran ly admitted at IT
the elections of 1920 that danger
lurked in the big majorities the Re-
publicans would have in congress.
Political history shows that Zig ma
jorities inevitably lead to groups and
bIocs and that as a result party dis
cipline is diminished if not de stfoyed.
Some Of the party leaders freely
charge that the present unsatisfac-
tory situation in congress is directly
traceable to the general primary sys-
tenn. The American government
they say, is government by party
and party government is efficient
only when there is party control. 1t
is argued that government in a
democracy is a government of not
individuals but of the majority
Therefore they hold that when a
majority Of the party in power votes
for a certain line of action, the mi
nority in the party should submit
to the decision reached and subnherge
itself.
The members Of the senatorial
and house 'blocs" hold directly con-
trary views.
They contend they have right to
attain their ends by any means
which the machinery of congress
makes possible. II they feel that
their ends can best be gained by
working with the Democrats rather
than with the Republican party, to
which they are accredited, they do
not hesitate to align themselves
with the party opposed to the admin
istration.
Blame Primaries
And it is just here that the Repub-
lican leaders are placing the blame
upon primaries. They declare that
under this system a man can de-
clare himself Republican or Dem
ocrat, as the case may be, for the
purpose of election only. In other
words in a congressional district
which is normally heavily Republl-
can, it is asserted that an independ-
ent can contest for the nomination
if he be so disposed, in the Republ1-
can primary, and having gained the
nomination is assured of election, de-
spite the fact that in the primary
that only a tenth of the normal
vote may have been cast. This indie
pendent when he reaches Washing
| ton is classified as a Republican but
| ne remains an independent ana
laughs at leadership, or attempted
party dictation.
Some of the older heads in the
Republican, party declare that party
leadership is effective only when a
candidate for office feels a sense OF
obligation to the party-feels that
he was selected to run for office be-
cause of his party loyalty and party
service. In brief, it is held that
party leadership must be consulted
as to candidates as well as to pol
icies. Party leadership must start
at the polls and not at the speak
er's desk. This is impossible un-
der the primary system. And so
Representative Mondell, Mother Hen
of the house of representatives, found
on Thursday that he had many
| st,.anea MchickSn in his brood.