Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1921-08-17
WASHING NEWS
LETTER
By Walter W%Ligget1

Washington; d.. c., Aug. 15-Tariff
and taxation are the rocks on which
the Republican, party is very likely to
split. I, Despite desperate efforts Of
party whips" to hold their followers
in line behind the Administration s
program, more and more Republicans,
who heretofore have been in perfectly
good standing, are kicking over the
traces with vociferous protests. Sew;
eral weeks ago i paid particular at:
tention to the many iniquities in the
Fordney tariff bill and stated that
many Of its "jokers" which were in
serted: at the dictation5 of great mono:
the smaller. business interests of the
country. My prediction has been alb
undantly justified. The Senate ways
and means committee is besieged by
Eastern manufacturers, exporting and
importing houses, Cuban sugar pro:
ducers, and dozens of other elements,
all demanding the elimination of the
discriminatory clauses with which the
Fordneys bill is cranfmed. The "Am-
erican valuation" plan also is coming
in for scathing criticism and it is
probable that the G. o. P. bosses in
the Senate will have to rewrite the
entire bill if they want to avoid the
fate that overlook the Republican par
ty in 1910. In that year the Payne
Aldrich tariff passed the Senate with
only one dissenting Republican vote
that of LaFollette. There did not
appear to be cloud On the political
horizon But in less than six months
it's evil effects began to be felt by the
country. The Republicans first lost
control of the House and in two years
more Taft went down to defeat, the
worst whipped man in the history Of
the country. The FOrdney bill is even
more vicious than the Payne-Aldrlch
measure and some shrewd polltlcal
f0recasters already see storms ahead.
Certainly Representatives Sinclair OF
North Dakota and Keller OF Mime
sofa may congratulate themselves for
having the courage and the wisdom
to oppose this measure. A good many
other congressman are very likely to
regret the subserviency to the party
whips that kept them from voting
their honest convictions.
Nelson Opposes Fordney Bill
Even Senator Knute Nelson, who is
noted for his party regularity and his
ability to swallow some pretty reac-
tionary legislation, is unable to stom-
ach the Fordney bill Senator Nelson
points out-as did several weeks ago
that the United States is now an ex-
porting nation and we cannot keep
our trade with Europe unless we &C.
cept her goods in exchange. This
economic truism failed to penetrate
the Uranium of "Uncle Joe" Fordney,
but it is perfectly clear to the Min
nesotan. "We are anxious to build
up trade and commerce with Europe
he recently said 1--WE are all anx-
ious to have a market for our pro-
ducts, and to get paid for those pro-
ducts either in cash or in valid secur-
tics. But, Mr.. President, here is one
question that stares me in the face:
With those devastated countries of
Europe rendered almost helpless by
the Great War, financially enrbarras-
Sod, and seeking gradually to rehab-
i]itate themselves, how can we hope
that those people will have any mon
cy to buy our goods unless we give
them a little chance to sell their own
products in this country? To my
mind, there never was more critical
time for preparing tariff bill in this
country than there is now. Since the
days Of the Civil War economic and
financial conditions in Europe never
have been as they are today; and if
you proceed with tariff bill along the
old lines, as the situation was when
everything was booming and in good
order in Europe, fear it will be like
kicking gun" This statement OF
Nelson's is being used by the Demo
cratic publicity committee, which
must be gall and wormwood to such a
staunch Republican, but this time the
senior Minnesota senator is standing
on firm ground and his conclusions
cannot be assailed. His colleagues
would do very well to heed his words
of warning.
Taxation Causes Rumpus
Secretary Melons suggestions tha
the House ways and means committee
shift the burden of taxation from the
wealthy war profiteers. to the poo
consumers is causing an even bigger
rumpus than the tariff. Mellon urged
the repeal of the excess profits tax
1E Glide WI