The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-06-25
DEMOCRATS
LOAD GUNS
TO CRITICIZE
Leaders Deciding on Matters
of Policy-Always Easy To
Flay Republican Tariff
Making Sessions.
TO SCORE MISTAKES
ny MARK SULLIVAN

The Democratic leaders are getting
ready to decide among themselves on
matters of policy, and to begin ag-
gressive public action on the tariff.
They may have some difficulty in
formulating a policy with regard to the
tariff which will command the com.
plete loyalty of all Democrats. But
this difficulty does not trouble them
much. They rather count on few
Democrats in the senate and house.
from Louisiana, from Florida and else
where, acting with the Republicans on
the tariff issue.
The novelty of the form of the pres
ent tariff bill as it will ultimately ap-
pear and the changed conditions
otherwise, will cause the Democratic
leaders some delay in working out
their policy. If they find it inexpedi-
ent TO present to the country an alter
native tariff programme, they will do
what it is always possible and easy
for an opposition party TO do, namely.
confine themselves to criticising the
Republican measure.
Easy to Criticize.
Things are generally easy for the
Democrats in a Republican tariff ses-
sion Tariff-making, even at its best,
even when it is done according to
scientific principles is full of oppor-
tunities for criticism. This is inner
ent in the nature of the case. A pro-
tective tariff frankly includes govern
ment paternalism toward some sec
tions of the community. and an alert
opposition is always able to make the
most of the unpopularity of this sort
of thing.
The Democratic leaders are full OF
hope and confidence. They believe that
an energetic program, adopted now
and pushed vigorously for year, will
enable them TO regain congress in the
election next year. That sounds like
large order. II is fact, however,
in the Republican leaders who came
here recently TO attend the meeting of
the National committee. brought dis
turbing reports of disaffeetion. 1t was
Immediately after the meeting of the
Republican National committee that
tho two became full Of phrases like
Tho Joy ride is over" The honey.
moon is over"
Phrases Float About.
It can always be taken for granted
that az a period few months after
tho inauguration into office of a polit-
begin TO float about, and there will be
the beginnings of one degree or an
other of disaffection. L may or may
rot bc associated with merit Funda-
r1"-taily, II il part OF the tidal ebb
% flow of popular mood. which forms
- essential part of politics.
The phrases about the END of the
honeymoon" which float about Wash.
ington are not commonly applied to
Harding personally, nor TO his cabinet
II is generally agreed that Harding's
growth in the affections of the people
continues. But as respects the Re
publican party generally, some of the
diSfaction is undoubtedly real. It Is
reported not only by Democratic lead
ers but by Republican leaders also
That Gisfaction has gone a long way
for example in one of the pivotal mid
die western states.
Due to Politics.
Il is said that if the congressional
elections, which are 10 be held next
year were held this year, so far as
this state is concerned. II would &c
Democratic. This condition is said tc
be due not wholly to reaction on the
Fart of the public, but to certain
extent, is due to politics in the state ir
question. A good many of the ap
pointmcnts made by the present ad
ministration seem to have been dis
tributed in such a way as to renew
and inflame the always more or less
intense factionalism within the Re
publican party in the state.
But If the condition is worse ir
some states than in others. ii is =;
fact that politics throughout the coun
try has reached a point where the
Republicans can no longer rely or
the warm enthusiasm of last Novem
ber, but must be judged in a coldel
light by performance or non-perform
ance. 1t is on non-performance or
the part of the new administration
that the Democrats, for the immediate
future, are going TO rely for the prin
cipal weight of their assaults.
Amusing Session.
The Democrats in the senate The
other day had an amusing session
They took one or two hours off for ;
purely political demonstration. ThC
occasion for it was the appearance o
IN article about Republican achieve
ments in a local newspaper, which on,
of the Democratic senators, Harrison
OF Mississippi, referred to with suct
accuracy as may be. as the mouth
piece of the party that now controls
the government" The newspaper re
counted the things which the new ad
ministration had done during the frs
Il weeks of its existence, and thu
Democrats devoted their afternoon o
war-dancing to countering with a lis
of what the Republican party ough
10 have done, but hadn't.
II wasn't really a debate or a fight
because none of the Republican ser
ators replied or took part in it.
was wholly an example of parliament
AIRY shadow boxing, so 10 speal
The Democrats were very eager I
K drag the Republicans into it. Repeat
edly one Democrat senator or anothe
would say IF what l am saying is NO
true, I invited an interruption fror
distinguished senators on the othe
side of the aisle" but the distir
guished senators on the other side @
the aisle did not interrupt Whethe
Continued on Page Five)