The Washington times., 1921-09-20
SENATE .BLOCS
THREATEN TOT|E
HARDING STANDS
President May Be Forced Into
Controversy as Leadership in
Upper House crumbIes.
BY J. BART CAMPBELL,
International NeMa SarYfce.

President Harding Is viewing with
grave concern the prospect of the
Senate getting Into a legislative snari
after the reopening OF Congress to.
morrow. It became known today.
Tho question of Senate leadership
In not involved In the situation. The
growing disposition OF Senator'S,
whether they be Republicans or
Democrats, to divide themselves off
to form block has virtually left the
Senate with only nominal leaders.
Harding's Wishes Disregardsd.
Party lines are being ignored. the
Presidents wishes are being disre-
garded or Haunted. as Republican
Senators line up with their Demo
cratic colleagues In organizing com.
binations or groups in support Of. or
In opposition to. pending legislation.
The Agricultural bloc" was tho BE-
ginning. Its success in forcing
through legislation intended to benefit
the farmers has led to the making OF
other "blocs," despite the Presidents
open disapproval Of the bloc" idea.
While the Agricultural bloc" is
threatening to upset Senator Pen
roses prediction that the tax bill not
consume more than two weeks Of Sen.
atoriar consideration. another bloc"
composed Of Republican and Demo
cratic Senators opposed to the anti
beer bill" IL promising to make fresh
trouble. Panama tolls and disarIna-
ment are two other moot questions
about which Republicans and Demo
Gratis are alike prepared to have much
to say.
Tolls Bill Comes First.
Senator Borahs bill to give Ameri.
can vessels free access to the Panama
Canal Is the unfinished business" of
tho Senate, having been made such
when the Senate agreed unanimously
before the Congressional recess 10
vote on II October 10. II cannot be
displaced by either the tax bill or the
'anti-beer bill" conference report ex.
cept by unanimous consent or by q
majority vote. II ID understood that
Senator Borah will not object to II
being displaced except when Senators
desire to discuss 1t any time before II
10 voted on.
Senator Penrose will report the tax
bill tomorrow. Under the rules Of the
Senate It will lie over until the follow
ing day, when he will seek to have
consideration Of 1t begun. The Senate.
as well as the House. will probably ad.
journ soon after reconvening tomor-
row out OF respect to the memory Of
the late Representative Taylcr of Ar
kansas. who died during the Congres.
sionsl recess.
Friends OF Beer Threaten Trouble.
But at the earliest opportunity
Senator Sterling intends to press for
the adoption of the ''anti-beer bill"
conference report. Of which he has
charge. 1t is for that move that the
bloc" Of it's Senatorial opponents Is
waiting. They are ready to talk ''at
length" again In opposition to its dis
puted chand-seizure provision.
and several of them have planned
long speeches rather than permit the
report to come to an early vote.
Both the "anti.beer" and the Pan
ANA tolls measures are likely to prove
vehicles for unlimited debate which
may range from prohibition all along
the line TO the League Of Nations and
disarmament, and render hazardous
any attempt by Republican leaders to
confine the Senate to taxation. And
there Is also the German.American
treaty. which the President ts expected
to submit to the Senate soon.
President May Interfere.
Altogether the situation Is one that
the Senate's Republican leaders admit
Is without a definite, certain program.
The President may be compelled to
be chary about doing 50 unless he can
be assured that his appeal for Sena-
torial action In the way he desires will
be needed.
The President discussed the situa.
ion with Senator Watson Of Indiana
and other Senate Republican leaders
at the White House last night. 1t was
understood that the question Of lead
ership, or the lack of II, was one of
the subjects under discussion. The
suggestion that Senator Lodge might
be displaced as the Republican leader
Of the Senate during his attendance at
the Washington conference on the
Limitation Of armaments and Pacific
and Far Eastern questions was thrust
aside, definitely and finally.
Cummins Seen Stumbling. Block.
It was agreed that Lodges utular
leadership would probably give him
prestige in the eyes of the foreign
delegates to the conference. just ~
Senator Underwoods title OF Demo
cratic leader Of the Senate would
also probably add to his standing with
them.
The suggestion was made. however.
that II Senator Cummins could be per.
suaded to resign as president pro
tenn Of the Senate. its cracking Re-
publican leadership might be held to-
gether by the selection Of Senator
Curtis in his place, and the choice Of
Senator Watson as the Republican
whip" But doubt was expressed II
Cummins would agree to such an ar
rangement, despite his Ill health.
I'll