New-York tribune., 1921-06-15
Harrison Launches
Democratic Attack
On Administration
Criticism of Republican Ac-
tion on Tariff and Peace
Regarded as Opening Gum
of Campaign by Minority

From The 7ribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 14.-Speaking
in the Senate with the evident ap-
ploval Of most of his Democratic col
leagues, Senator Pat Harrison, of
Mississippi, one of the Democratic
campaign managers in 1920, belittled
the Republican record of legislative
and administrative achievement since
March 4.
Senator Harrison's remarks were
looked on both IN Republican and
Democratic quarters as the opening
gun of the FIRE Of cTiticism which the
Democratic political leaders in Con-
gress will center on the Republicans
from this time forth in preparation for
the next campaign.
The immediate occasion for Senator
Harrison's remarks was an editorial in
The Washington Post, which is friend
ly to the Harding Administration,
enumerating long list of achieve
ments of the Republican party since
the Harding Administration opened.
The Mississippi Senator spoke for
about an hour and was encouraged by
numerous questions from Democratic
colleagues intended to reinforce him in
his attacks.
One of the first achievements for
which the party was given credit in
the editorial referred to was the pass
age Of the emergency tariff bill. This
drew forth the wrath of Senator Har
rison. He declared the bill was passed
"to the shame of the Republican
party" He asked Republican Senators
who had supported the measure to give
one instance Of benefit to the farmers
from passage of the emergency tariff
bill. No such instance could be cited,
he declared
Referring to citation of the passage
o. the peace resolution as an achieve
ment of the Republicans, he said
"You promised to establish peace
right off the reel, yet this simple little
resolution has not passed yet"
81 am wondering" Senator Harrison
added, "what the DISTINGUISHED Senator
from Massachusetts, Mr.. Lodge, and
the Senator, Mr.. Knox, now think of
Their baby
at was demolished over in the
House. They offered an insult to you
Republican Senators. Yet if reports
be true they had the cooperation of
the President. l am wondering what
YOU will do with that resolution when
it comes back here ~.
"In view of the magic power of the
President to change the sentiment of
distinguished Republican Senators on
the Colombian treaty, does not the Sen
ator from Mississippi believe that when
this new peace resolution comes to the
Senate Republican Senators will ac-
cept?" asked Senator Wolcott, of Della
ware. 4 Ms
81 have no doubt" Senator Harris on
answered, Eve will see another strange
acrobatic. performance such as the dis
tinguished Senator from Massachuse etts
performed on the League of Nations
That is in keeping with a good many
changes by distinguished Republican
Senators. They changed overnight on
the disarmament proposition.
"The Senator from Washington, Mr..
Poindexter, acting chairman Of the
Committee on Naval Affairs. stood ada
mant against the Borah disarmament
amendment, and all of his colleagues
over there were with him. The Presi-
dent would not stand for it, so the
newspapers said. Then suddenly like
thunderclap out Of clear sky tie
whole crowd was changed and switched
to the support of Senator Borah. SO I
imagine they will also change their
position on the Knox resolution. and
now stand behind the one that bears
the name of Mr.. Porter"