Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-11-20

The open defiance of the president
by "a Republican members Of house
who voted with the Democrats on
Thursday to defeat the presidents s
suggestion of 40 per cent maximum
Surtax in the revenue bill, coupled with
Democratic gains, in the scattered
elections held this year has created a
situation which is viewed with any
thing but equanimity. Mr.. Harding has
not ATTEMPTED to hide his frank dis
appointment over the action of the
house.
West Getting Control
Day by day events in congress tend
to confirm the fact that the western
element in congress are taking control
away from the east. All but handful
of the representatives who refused
to listen to the advice of President
Harding ON the tax bill are middle
west-from the states which fostered
the progressive" movement IN 1910
and 1912 and brought disaster to the
Taft administration.
Casting about for an explanation of
Ine SitudtloH M SohSieSS' mel VI
prominence in Republican ranks refuse
to admit that party leadership has
broken down through any faults of
the chosen leaders. These leaders
have met condition with which it
has been all but impossible to deal.
It was frankly admitted after the cleo
tions of 1920 that danger lurked in the
big majorities the Republicans would
have in congress. Political history
shows that big majorities inevitably
lead to groups and "blocs' and that as
a result party discipline is diminished
if not destroyed.
Some of the party leaders freely
charge that the present unsatisfactory
situation in congress is directly trace
able to the general primary system.
The American government they say is
a government by party and party gov
ernment is efficient only when there
is party control. 1t is argued that
government in democracy is al gov
crnment not Of individuals but of the
majority.
Therefore they hold that when ma
jority of the party in power votes for
a certain line of action, the minority in
the party should submit to the decision
reached and submerge itself.
Minority Always Busy.
The members of the senatorial and
house "blocs'' hold directly contrary
views. They contend that they have a
right to attain their ends by any means
which the machinery of congress
makes possible. If they feel that their
ends can be gained by working with
the Democratic rather than with the
accredited they do not hesitate to
align themselves with the party op-
posed to the administration.
And it is just here that the Repub-
lican leaders are placing the blame
upon the primaries. They declare that
under this system a man can declare
himself Republican or Democrat as
the case may be for the purpose of
election only. In other words in
congressional district which is normally
heavily Republican it is asserted that
an Independent can contest for the
nomination if he be so desired in the
Republican primary and having gained
the nomination is assured of election
despite the fact that in the primary
only tenth of the normal vote may
have been cast. This Independent
when he reaches Washington is classi-
fled as a Republican but he remains an
Independent and laughs at leadership,
or attempted party dictation.
Many Strange "Chicks."
Some of the older heads in the Re-
publican party declare that party lead
ership is effective only when a can
didate for office feels sense of OBJ
legation to the party-feels that he
was selected to run for office because
of his party loyalty and party service.
In brief. it is held that party leader
ship must be consulted as to candi-
dates as well as to policies Party
leadership must start at the polls and
not at the speakers desk. This is
impossible under the primary system.
And so Representative Mondell, mother
hen Of the house of representatives,