Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-10-05
WASHINGTON ! NEWS ll !; ! IS
LETTER q. 3. !:
(By Walter w. .Liggett)

! EllEk .... III. :.
49, = (By Walter w. .Lggett) :. !. ~.4
Washington, d. c.. Oct. 33-A clear
cut test of strength between Presi-
dent Harding and his former colleag-
ues in the Senate is in the cards for
the near future. The President has
repeatedly stated that he wants Con-
gross to adjourn before the so-called
disarmament conference convenes:
He fears that Borah, Hi Johnson, Jim
Reed, Tom Watson, or some other
plain spoken senator may say some
thing to embarass our foreign guests,
or mayhap the administration. For
this reason Harding wants his pro-
gram rushed thru expeditiously as
possible. The House is amenable,
but the Senate is in no hurry. Most
senators would rather talk than eat
and they are having a glorious talk
fest these days and not passing any
bills whatever. One day they talk
about near-beer and rum-runners, the
next day the league of nations is the
theme, and in between there is con-
siderable wind-jamIming about divers
and sundry topics. The President IS
getting very anxious and it need sur
prise no one if he appears on capitol
hill one of these days and asks the
Senate to proceed. to business and pass
legislation instead of talking about it..
This will certainly affront the Sena-
torial dignity and probably provoke
more talk than before. It is likely
that Lodge and other administration
leaders will try to put on the cloture
and thus limit debate. The Democrats
will resist this and II they are joined
by the few progressive Republicans
the effort will fail 1t will be an open
issue and the result will be interest
ing.
Treaties Have Right-of-Way
The treaties with the Central pow
ers were given the right-Of-Way IN the
Senate in the hope they could be rat
flied Immediately and leave that BODY
free to take up the revenue measure.
But Borah and the other "irreconcil-
ables' have already kicked up the
same kind of a rumpus that they dld
over the league of nations, and for tine
same reason. 1t is by no means
foregone conclusion that the treaties
will be ratified for weeks and they
may have to be Withdrawn to give the
revenue bill precedence. Closer IN
yestlgation has revealed many o.
iectionable clauses in the treaties
which 20 far towards explaining why
thew were drawn i'm secret and these
will be pointed out to the country by
hostile senators. Former President
Wilson is said to be attempting TO
rally Democratic opposition and rat,
ification does not look as easy as 1t
did a few weeks ago.
Wilson's Health Improving
F,x-President Wilson is slowly I'M
nroving in health and is said to be
taking an active interest in life again.
He takes long auto rides about rle
CITY nearly every day and goes 10 ms
law office usually once a week. He IS
q regular attendant at a local Vaude.
Vile theatre every Saturday night ana
crowds usually gather to cheer hlm
az ha is assisted to his automobNe'
He answers this demonstration VIII
smiles and a wave of his hand. MTs
Wilson always accompanies the Tor:
mer president and seems particularly
n,eased at the warm greetings when
mark his appearance in any crowd
No one believes that woodrow Wilson
win he an active figure in polltlcs
again but it is generally supposed that
ha will write his memoirs when his
health permits. a
Harding Won't Face Facts
The trouble is that President Hard
inc and his advisors won't face tacts
This country-and indeed, the whole
worlds in a very critical conultlOr
as THE result of the war. Farm prices
are Debated, nearly 100000 workers
are unemployed, banks are faMlng al
over the country, and a virtual NOR
atorium has been declared in big bu
siness circles. Something is radically
wrong with all lines of industry ane
things can't be made right by gather
ing few silk-hatted captains OF in
dustry in Washington and mercy
talking. Any real remedy requires
deeds instead of words and some O.
the deeds must be very drastic. ina
is exactly the trouble, Harding, Hoo
yer. Mellon and all other advisors o
the administration are perfectly sat
isfied with things as they are. The!
think the "tenlple requires no remak
ing" and as long as they feel this wa!
thew would see it fall down abou
their ears rather than lnstaN new
foundations. They are willing O
course, to permit a few patches o.
the roof, for the roof obviously i
leaking; but apparently they are un
able to see that the whole structur
is settling at the corners and tina
fundamental repairs must be under
taken to prevent collapse.
Look at the Coal Situation
Consider the coal situation, for IN
stance. Everyone who has investlga
ted the situation knows our coal pre-
duction is about 80 per cent less rha1
normal so far this year and that "
r.
T1>o,.o