Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-29
HOW AGRICULTURAL
bloc" STARTED
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau.
62S Riggs Building.
ny THEODORE TILLER

62S Riggs Building.
BY THEODORE TILLER
WASHINGTON, Dec. 27.-The
genesis of the agricultural bloc" in
congress was revealed by Repre-
sentative Otis Wingo, Democrat, OF
Arkansas, as congress adjourned for
the Christmas holidays. According
to Representative Wingo, this "bloc"
was formed after Representative
Martin B. Madden, of Illinois, now
chairman of the budget or appropria-
lions committee of congress. boosted
that at last the sections north of the
Ohio and east of the Mississippi had
come into control of the government
and that these sections, paying most
of the taxes, proposed to rule.
Passing over such titular leaders
as Representative Mondell, of wy
oming, now the floor chief of the
house Republicans, Representative
Wingo observed that the real boss
of the Republican works" was the
chairman of the appropriations COM
mittee, since he holds the govern
ment's purse strings. If the budget
svstem goes on, said Mr.. Wingo, the
chairman of the house approprla-
tions committee eventually will give
orders to the president and all lead
ers of congress.
Mr.. Madden's boast about the CEN
tralization of power in the north,
Mr.. Wingo disclosed, was the begin
ming of the agricultural bloc.
Against such "bloc" influences both
President Harding and Secretary
Weeks have recently spoken with
more or less directness.
Madden's Boast
Something has been said In the
house about bloc" commented
Representative Wingo. "Mr. Mo ~
dell, the Republican leader, says ne
does not know what a bloc is. He
said he was not enough of French
scholar. That is surprising because
he and his party have engaged In
so many French gestures by way
of what is vulgarly called 'bull-con
legislation that I thought he really
was acquainted with French.
eff he really wants to know what
a bloc is he might ask Secretary
Weeks. He told him. Our Repubii-
can friends were very much, elated
when they took charge under this
administration. The real leader
Mr.. Madden, of Illinois, because the
gentleman who holds the purse
strings is really the leader and
gentlemen of congress will live to
see the day when the chairman OF
the appropriations committee will
give orders to the president and the
speaker under the present system OF
appropriations-the real leader, Mr..
Madden, announced with a great deal
Of dictum and such vehemence as
he can assume at times that for the
first time since the Civil war, l
believe he said, the people who paid
taxes and who lived north of the
Ohio and east of the Mississippi were
in control of the government, and
they were going to run it.
'"That was before certain gentle
men succeeded in forming an agri-
cultural bloc in an effort to insist
not upon special legislation for agri-
culture, but for equality of treat
nnent snd for proper consideration of
the. great agricultural sections of
the west.
Challenge Accepted
Wnen Mr.. MAIDEN, OF ILLINOIS,
announced that the people north of
the Ohio and east of the Mississippi
proposed to take charge of the gov
eminent, then and there the 'agri-
cultural bloc was formed. Because
that was notice that if men who be-
Heved in nonpartisan legislation for
the benefit of the agricultural in
terests Of this country did not get
together, the only other legislation
that would be enacted under this adj
ministration would be typical Re-
publican legislation, which is class
legislation for the great financial and
manufacturing interests of the coun-
try.
If there be a bona fide desire
of men who represent agriculture in
the south and west, regardless Of
party lines, to see that the farmers
!. are given not class, legislation, but
equality Of treatment-for that is all
Z we ask and we are getting closer to-
gether-prompted by the same COM
mon interest in the same common
patriotism, and their getting togeth-
er constitutes an agricultural bloc,
then the Republican leader of the
house, Mr.. Mondell, has such a bloc
: under his wing, just as they have
!. at the senate wing of the capitol"