Evening star., 1921-03-23
LIVELY TIMES SEEN
IN COMING SESSION
Democrats of Congress Pre-
pare to Take Advantage of
Republican Breaks.
BY y. o. MESSENGER.

Did somebody mention politics.?
though it has not been heard extern
sively of late in the midst Of the talk
about patronage. revival Of the ver-
sailles treaty and all that sort of
thing.
But just wait until Congress con-
venes in extraordinary session, April
IL; politics will be rampant from the
opening day. The democrats are get
ting ready to open an intensive cam
paign on the republicans. expecting to
ind their advantage in the tariff and
tax reform policies of the dominant
party.
During the recess some Of the demo-
and have been IN. frequent eonsulta-
ton over the outlook for 4 promising
hay-making season throughout the
session now close at hand. Though
the professed policy Of the national
democratic organization. voiced by
Chairman George White. is to give the
new administration fair show for it's
white alley" the program does not
contemplate remaining silent or oblivi-
Gus under republican mistakes or en-
barrasSments.
And the democratic leaders in Con-
S!eSS oeueEe tndl the repuDH cans
Just naturally can't help butting into
difficulties as soon as they settle
down to business in the extraordinary
session. The republicans are due for
trouble. as the sparks fly upward. in
the opinion of the democratic leaders
Tariff to Test Party Loyalty.
1t is a small minority in the House
and Sel.ate, relatively, but a very mil
liant and determined one, Whether
H.-i11
determined. as action on the pro-
posed emergency tariff bill proceeds
At the last session, it will be re-
called. some of the democratic breth-
rem in both houses strayed away
from conventional party policy on
ceptional conditions. They were up
braided by their colleagues and lead
ers at the time, and it remains to be
seen what course they will follow
from now on.
Senator Penrose republican tariff and
tax leader in the Senate. talks of a
disciplined" republican party to push
through the legislation decided upon in
party conference. and it is assumed that
similar tactics may be pursued by demo-
cratic leaders. although democrats are
notoriously less amenable to caucus
pressure than republicans In this stu
alton. however, their case is realized to
be desperate and, in the opinion Of the
leaders. hopeless unless they stand solid
ly together.
The prevailing belief among demo-
cratic political leaders. in and out of
Congress. is that by united action and
taking advantage of every break" the
republicans may make. the democrats
will assuredly diminish the great re-
publican majority in the House in the
next Congress elections. and even stand
a chance of overcoming it.
ha k q
pected from the republicans relate to
possible mistakes in tariff legislation
and failure to satisfy the country on
tax reform. Some water over the
democratic wheel is expected from the
handling Of the Versailles treaty and
the league Of nations; that is to say.
the democratic leaders are confident
that the republicans will have to
approach the policy Of the last ad-
ministration in a degree and at least
sufficiently to allow them to say, I'VE
told you so"
Expect Rising Prices.
The first real benefit which the DEM
to their side out Of republican legisla-
tion will be. in their opinion, the re-
sentiment of the country against the
predicted rise in prices to follow the
passage of the tariff bill-if the rise
matcrializes. as the democrats ON
The democratic leaders think that
the country is in no mood to stand
reaction from the recent decline in
prices. and indeed has not vet be-
come satisfied that the level reach
ed is low enough. The republicans
realize that they may lose popular
favor in a measure. but they are
counting upon overcoming it
through gaining the support of the
farmers. if they can be rescued
from their present distressing con-
dition.
All through the debates coming
on the tariff bill the democrats pro-
pose to harp constantly on one
string-stabilize conditions in Eu-
rope as necessary precedent to
restoring good conditions in bust
ness in this country. And that
means, from the democratic view
point, do something with the Yer
sailles treaty. They intend, they
say, to keep the republicans with
their noses continually to the grind
stone on this proposition.
1t may be added that in repub-
Iican circles this propect is regard
ed as being fraught with consid- |
able embarrassment to the repub-
licans and tactical advantage to the |